Europeans, including IMF chief and Americans clashed on Thursday in Davos during a debate on monetary stimulus that degenerated into a skirmish over the European Union economy and the Euro.
Denmark has cut its key interest rate to prevent the Krone from strengthening in the wake of Switzerland's decision to scrap the franc's peg to the Euro. There has been speculation that Denmark could follow the Swiss move by removing the Krone's link to the Euro.
Germany's Angela Merkel has played down the chances of a Greek exit from the Euro zone, but made clear she expected Athens to stick to the terms of its international bailouts after this month's election.
Germany has said it will not be “blackmailed” into renegotiating Greece’s rescue program should a new hard left government take office after elections later this month. The Euro dropped to a nine-year low after a report in Der Spiegel magazine on Monday that Berlin was no longer opposed to Athens leaving the currency bloc.
The G20 meeting in Brisbane made it clearer than ever to me that we in Britain must stick to our long-term economic plan. Six years on from the financial crash that brought the world to its knees, red warning lights are once again flashing on the dashboard of the global economy
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday rejected calls for Berlin to ditch its plans for a balanced budget next year and to instead invest more in order to shore up the faltering German and Euro zone economies. On Tuesday Germany slashed its 2014 growth forecast from 1.8% to 1.2%.
Bankers' behavior still needs to change following the financial crisis, Bank of England governor Mark Carney has warned. He added that top executives had “got away without sanction”.“Maybe they were not at the best tables in society after that, but they're still at the best golf courses. That has to change,” he said. Mr Carney was speaking at the International Monetary Fund's annual meeting in Washington.
A survey measuring business activity in the Euro zone shows the economy remains stuck in a rut, according to the company behind the report. The Euro zone purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 52 in September, down from an initial estimate of 52.3.
The European Central Bank has kept its benchmark interest rate at 0.05% and given details of its asset purchase program announced last month. The bank's head Mario Draghi said it would start buying covered bonds this month and other assets in the final three months of the year. This would go on for two years.
Global economic activity should strengthen in the second half of the year and accelerate in 2015, although momentum could be weaker than expected, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said, hinting at a slight cut in the Fund's growth forecasts.