Top Headlines
IMF Cuts Global Growth Forecast to 3.4% in Year of ‘Great Challenges’ – Bloomberg The International Monetary Fund cut its world growth outlook, as the commodities slump and political gridlock push Brazil deeper into recession, plunging oil prices hobble Mideast crude producers, and the rising dollar curbs U.S. prospects.
China Fourth-Quarter Growth Slows to 6.8 percent, Weakest Since 2009 – Reuters China’s economy grew 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, matching expectations and the slowest since the global financial crisis, putting pressure on Beijing to roll out more support measures as fears of a sharper slowdown panic investors.
Report Criticizes Riksbank Inflation Measure, Urges Sweeping Changes – Reuters Sweden’s central bank should have a clearer role in policing economic threats like household debt levels, a long-anticipated report said on Monday, while recommending a change to an inflation target that may allow less aggressive monetary policy.
Deutsche Bank to Face British Lawsuit Over High-Speed Trading – New York Times (subscription) Deutsche Bank, already troubled by lawsuits and official investigations, faces another challenge. A group of lawyers said on Monday that they planned to sue the company in British court, accusing the bank of using high-speed trading software to profit in foreign currency markets at the expense of customers.
BOE’s Vlieghe Patient on Timing of Rate Increase – Bloomberg Bank of England policy maker Gertjan Vlieghe said he’s “patient” on interest rates and wants to see evidence of stronger price pressures before tightening policy.
Greece: Pensions Row Brewing With IMF – Kathimerini Following reports that the IMF is unconvinced by the Greek government’s pension reform proposals, Fin Min Tsakalotos on Monday called on the Washington-based organization to make its position clear in public and to help avoid delays to the upcoming bailout review. |