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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...
China Ready to Talk Asian Monetary Fund to Cut Dollar Dependence, Malaysia Says
5.4.2023
An idea to establish an Asian Monetary Fund has caught the attention of the Chinese leadership, the head of the Malaysian government revealed. The prime minister believes there is no reason for his country, which is hurting from a strong U.S. dollar, to remain dependent on the greenback. Malaysia...
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...
Central Banks Continue to Show Strong Demand for Gold in 2023, Says World Gold Council Report
5.3.2023
Central banks show continued demand for gold in 2023, as per a recent report from the World Gold Council (WGC), which noted that the world’s central banks accumulated 31 tons of the precious metal in January. Turkey was the largest gold buyer, adding 23 tons to its central bank’s stash...
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...
IMF Board 'Generally Agreed' Crypto Shouldn't Be Legal Tender
23.2.2023
Outright crypto bans aren’t ideal but shouldn’t be ruled out, the International Monetary Fund leadership said
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...
El Salvador’s ‘limited’ use of Bitcoin prevents forecasted risks, says IMF
12.2.2023
The IMF has suggested that El Salvador “reconsider” its plans for Bitcoin, following a recent visit to the country
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...
Davos 2023: WEF Unveils Global Collaboration Village Metaverse Platform
20.1.2023
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the rollout of the Global Collaboration Village, its own metaverse platform, for this year. Klaus Schwab, chairman of the WEF, plans to leverage this representation of Davos to allow people and leaders to meet in virtual worlds and coordinate global...
Report: Egyptian Pound Reaches New Low Against US Dollar Despite Flexible Exchange Rate Regime
16.1.2023
The exchange rate of the Egyptian pound versus the U.S. dollar fell to a new low on Jan. 11 after it tapped 32.14 per greenback. The currency’s latest significant depreciation came just a few months after it adopted a flexible exchange rate regime. According to the International Monetary...
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...