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Harvard Economics Professor: US Default Could Spark Global Financial Crisis
15.5.2023
Harvard economics professor Kenneth Rogoff, who previously served as the chief economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has warned that the U.S. defaulting on its debt obligations could spark a global financial crisis. “It’s a very perilous situation and we are in unknown waters,”...
IMF Warns of ‘Very Serious Repercussions’ if US Defaults on Debt Obligations
13.5.2023
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of “very serious repercussions” to both the U.S. and the global economy if the U.S. defaults on its debt obligations, which could be as soon as June 1. “We are calling on all of the parties to come together, reach consensus, and resolve...
Nigeria-China Currency Swap: Activist Lawyer Accuses IMF and World Bank of ‘Economic Sabotage’ to Promote US Dollar, Urges Nigeria to Join BRICS
10.5.2023
Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, has accused the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) of sabotaging the currency swap arrangement between China and Nigeria. Falana said the Nigerian central bank and the two global financial institutions are helping...
IMF Chief Warns of More Weaknesses in US Banking Sector — Sees ‘Gradual’ Shift Away From US Dollar
4.5.2023
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva expects “more vulnerabilities” in the U.S. banking sector amid a growing de-dollarization trend worldwide. “There has been a gradual shift away from the dollar,” the IMF chief acknowledged. U.S. Banking...
IMF Says Sub-Saharan Africa Already Feeling Effects of the ‘Big Funding Squeeze’
18.4.2023
Countries from the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region face a “big funding squeeze” which is forcing some of them to cut spending on health, education, and infrastructure. According to Abebe Aemro Selassie, people from the region are already “feeling the effects of the funding...
IMF Blog: Interest Rates to Fall to Pre-Pandemic Levels Once Inflation Is Tamed
13.4.2023
When inflation in advanced economies is tamed, real interest rates are likely to drop to pre-pandemic levels, the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) blog post has said. According to the authors of the blog post, the transition to a “cleaner economy in a budget-neutral way” could...
IMF Economist Warns of Side Effects From Sharp Monetary Policy Tightening — Says Financial Risks Have Increased
13.4.2023
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) economic counselor has warned of the side effects of sharp monetary tightening. Noting that “Inflation is much stickier than anticipated,” he stressed that “financial risks have risen.” IMF Economist’s Warning Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas...
Report: Zambian Currency Poised for First Quarterly Decline Since 2020
4.4.2023
The Zambian kwacha, one of the best-performing currencies in 2022, is now expected to see its first quarterly decline in nearly two years. The Zambian leader Hakainde Hichilema claimed that stalled debt restructuring negotiations are adding to pressure against the local currency. Zambia’s...
South Africa Added to FATF ‘Grey List’ Despite Designation of Crypto as a Financial Product
26.2.2023
In a move seen as a major setback for South Africa, the international financial watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force, announced on Feb. 24 that it had added the country to its “grey list.” Getting grey-listed by the financial watchdog potentially makes it difficult for South Africa...
India Asks IMF and FSB for Joint Paper to Help Formulate ‘Comprehensive’ Crypto Policy
26.2.2023
India has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB) to develop “a synthesis paper” on crypto assets as part of the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors under India’s presidency. “This would help in the formulation...
IMF Calls for ‘More’ Crypto Regulation — Says Banning Should Be an Option
26.2.2023
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says crypto needs “more regulation.” She added, “We should not take off the table banning those assets,” if regulation fails or is too slow to implement. IMF’s Chief Calls for More Crypto...
IMF Board Offers Guidance for Developing Effective Crypto Policies
25.2.2023
The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has provided guidance for member countries to develop effective crypto policies. The board stressed the need to develop comprehensive crypto regulations to “better mitigate the risks posed by crypto assets while also harnessing...
India Having ‘Detailed Discussions’ With G20 Members on Crypto Regulation
14.2.2023
India is having “detailed discussions” with other G20 members about forming a collective standard operating procedure (SOP) to regulate crypto assets, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has revealed. She also called for “a globally coordinated approach on the regulation...
IMF Report on El Salvador’s Bitcoin Adoption: Risks Averted, but Transparency Needed
12.2.2023
According to a recent mission statement published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), El Salvador has adopted bitcoin as legal tender and has avoided risks so far. The IMF states that the risks have not materialized due to the limited use of bitcoin. However, the United Nations financial...
Ghanaian Cedi Second Worst-Performing Asset Among Sub-Saharan Africa’s Top 15 Currencies
24.1.2023
In just the first 17 days of the new year, the Ghanaian currency reportedly depreciated by 12.7%, making it the second worst-performing among Sub-Saharan Africa’s top 15 currencies. While one U.S. dollar bought 13.10 units of the cedi on the parallel market, according to the latest Bank...
IMF Division Chief and Deputy Managing Director Call for Swift Regulatory Action to Avoid Crypto Contagion to Legacy Finance
21.1.2023
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) division chief and deputy managing director are calling for more action to be taken in the regulatory aspect to avoid crypto’s ups and downs affecting banks and traditional financial institutions. Nobuyasu Sugimoto, deputy division chief of the financial...
Report: Somalia to Fight Inflation and Counterfeiters With New Banknotes
20.1.2023
According to the deputy governor of the Somalian central bank, Ali Yasin Wardheere, the institution plans to fight inflation and currency counterfeiters with newly issued shilling banknotes. The bank reportedly said it hopes to complete the process of replacing old and high-value shilling bills...
IMF Warns of Tough Year Ahead for World Economy Citing Slowdown in US, EU, China
2.1.2023
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that 2023 will be a tougher year for most of the world economy because the U.S., EU, and Chinese economies are all slowing down simultaneously. “We expect one-third of the world economy to be in recession … Even countries that are not...
Ghanaian Cedi Appreciates by More Than 30% in 4 Days — Currency Recovery Follows IMF Loan Announcement
18.12.2022
Just a few months after it became the world’s worst-performing currency, the Ghanaian cedi’s exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar bounced back from just over 14 units per dollar on Dec. 1, to 8 units for every dollar by Dec. 16, new data has shown. The currency’s resurgence...
G20 Countries to Build Crypto Policy Consensus for Better Global Regulation
18.12.2022
The G20 countries aim to build a policy consensus on crypto assets for better global regulation. “After the crypto meltdown which we have seen recently, it is clear that we need internationally agreed standards on regulation,” said the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s deputy...