Labour must stick to Reeves’ fiscal rules to avoid market chaos, IMF warns UK economy sees growth upgrade but government advised to ‘stay the course’ The Independent UK · May 18
Iran war hit to UK growth less than feared but inflation still to rise – IMF The International Monetary Fund (IMF) updated its growth projections a month after warning of a sharp slowdown caused by the global energy shock. Evening Standard · May 18
IMF urges UK to ‘stay the course’ on borrowing amid Starmer uncertainty Washington-based fund praises Rachel Reeves for aiming to cut budget deficit as it upgrades growth forecasts The Guardian - UK · May 18
World imbalances trouble G-7 in wake of Trump’s China encounter Global finance ministers convene in Paris to address lopsided world growth, focusing on structural misalignments after the US-China trade summit. France aims to tackle America's deficits, Europe's low investment, and China's trade surplus. Economists warn of systemic crisis without concerted re-balancing efforts. The Economic Times · May 17
Defence boost for Pakistan: PKR 100 billion military hike on cards in IMF-backed budget Pakistan plans to increase its defense budget by PKR 100 billion for the next fiscal year, reaching an estimated PKR 2.665 trillion. This move aligns with an IMF-backed reform program projecting a significant rise in federal revenues to PKR 17.144 trillion. The government is also committed to digitizing payments and… The Times of India · May 16
Pakistan eyes PKR 100 bn defence hike in IMF-linked budget Pakistan is set to boost its defense budget by approximately PKR 100 billion. This move aligns with an International Monetary Fund program. Revenues are projected to rise significantly. The government will also focus on digitizing payments and tackling corruption. Reforms aim to create a level playing field for businesses. An… The Economic Times · May 16
Nvidia surpasses Germany: How the market caps of tech giants compare to top economies Nvidia’s market capitalisation ($5.7 trillion) has overtaken Germany’s GDP ($5.45 trillion). The combined value of the five largest US companies now exceeds the total GDP of Europe’s five largest economies. Euronews · May 16
Pakistan receives USD 1.3 bn loan from IMF: Central bank Pakistan has recieved USD 1.3 billion from the International Monetary Fund. This funding comes from two separate programs, the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. The money will help stabilize Pakistan's economy and address climate-related challenges. The Economic Times · May 13
Petrol, diesel price hike in India a matter of time if Middle East conflict persists: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra India faces potential retail fuel price hikes if the Middle East conflict persists. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra indicated this possibility due to rising energy import costs and inflation risks. The government has already reduced duties and state refiners are absorbing losses. Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to conserve fuel. Oil… The Economic Times · May 13
Trump in Beijing: How do the US and China compare as economic superpowers? US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week comes as the rivalry between the world's two largest economies is increasingly shaped by economic competition, technological leadership and global influence. Euronews · May 13
Trump's Friendship Isn't Enough For Investors: His Closest Allies Run Some Of Latin America's Riskiest Countries Some of Latin America's most Trump-friendly governments are still being treated by investors as risky bets, according to J.P. Morgan country-risk data, a reminder that access to Washington does not automatically translate into confidence on Wall Street. International Business Times · May 11
Middle East war will slow down economic growth in Africa as cost of living crisis soars, IMF warns According to the IMF's report, regional growth is expected to decline by 0.3 percentage points, and some 20 million people in Africa now face the risk of food insecurity as the Iran war raises energy and food prices. Euronews · May 7
Cut borrowing costs for poorer countries to free up $900bn for development – report G77 nations spend $8tn a year servicing debts, but analysis shows how comprehensive relief could benefit social spending The Guardian - UK · May 6
Euronews · May 6 EU countries need more 'targeted measures' to tackle soaring energy prices, says IMF's Helge Berger The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said vulnerable households should be the main target of energy price relief measures and urged EU governments to guarantee that these won't do "more damage than good".
Euronews · May 5 End of conflict in the Middle East or recession in Europe, IMF warns The IMF’s outlook for Europe remains closely tied to geopolitical developments. A prolonged crisis risks tipping Europe into recession.
The Independent UK · May 5 Rachel Reeves and Scott Bessent ‘argued’ in Washington after chancellor’s Iran war criticism Ms Reeves reportedly hit back that she did not work for the US treasury secretary
The Conversation · May 5 Mozambique’s economy is failing: the tough policy choices that need to be made urgently Mozambique is not in total crisis – but it is faltering. There has been no currency crash, no hyperinflation, no bank run. But over the past decade the main indicators of the country’s economic health have severely eroded.
Evening Standard · May 5 No 10 does not deny Chancellor rowed with US counterpart in Washington meetings Rachel Reeves had a fierce confrontation with Scott Bessent when she visited the US capital for the IMF’s spring meetings, according to reports.
MarketBeat · May 2 Visa Soars Post-Earnings; Outlook Positive Despite AI Risks Visa's latest earnings were a big win for shares. Despite macro and AI fears, Visa powered ahead, posting its highest growth since 2022.
International Business Times UK · Apr 29 Iran War Shock Leaves UK Policymakers Trapped Between Inflation and Recession Risks The UK economy is threatened by a £35bn loss due to rising energy prices from the Iran conflict, risking recession and high inflation, warns NIESR.
International Business Times · Apr 28 The Bahamas Financial Pivot: From Offshore Haven to Digital Hub IMF research has estimated that automatic exchange agreements reduced cross-border deposits in offshore centres by between sixteen and thirty-three per cent.
Euronews · Apr 28 Iran war will trigger largest energy price surge since 2022, World Bank warns The World Bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook report predicts a 24% surge in energy prices this year as the Iran war delivers a historic shock to global supply chains.
Euronews · Apr 24 ECB interest rate dilemma: Eurozone growth stalls as Iran war fuels inflation The European Central Bank faces heightened uncertainty ahead of next week’s rate decision, with President Christine Lagarde warning the "stop-start nature" of the Iran war is making the economic outlook harder to assess.
Euronews · Apr 23 Iran war effects on Europe: Is a recession already unfolding? The eurozone’s private sector slipped back into contraction in April, marking its weakest performance in nearly a year and a half since November 2024, as the war in Iran hit services and fuelled inflation.