G-20 emphasises growth, seeks to calm markets

Fed stimulus withdrawal eyed warily at the meet; communique commits to economic rebalancing, careful steps

The Group of 20 nations put growth ahead of austerity, seeking to rebalance a multi-speed global economy and pledging to shift policy carefully so recovery is not derailed by volatile financial markets.

Finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Moscow on Saturday put the finishing touches to a joint communique that delegates said was little changed after they met for dinner on Friday night.

Indications that the US Federal Reserve would scale back its monetary stimulus dominated the debate, with emerging economies most concerned hit by a resulting selloff in stocks and bonds, and a flight to the dollar. Hosts Russia said G-20 policymakers had soft-pedalled on goals to cut government debt in favour of a focus on growth and how to exit central bank stimulus with a minimum of turmoil.

"(G-20) colleagues have not made the decision to take responsibility to lower the deficits and debts by 2016," Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told Reuters.

"Some people thought that first you need to ensure economic growth."

While the US recovery is gaining traction, China's export motor is sputtering, Japan's bid to break out of deflation has not reached escape velocity, and demand in the Euro zone is too weak to sustain a job-creating recovery. "We do not see any revival of growth in Europe yet, and Japan - we're keeping our fingers crossed," said Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram. "The best case scenario for today would be for the advanced economies to get growth going. They must keep in mind the impact of their actions on the large emerging economies."

A final draft, obtained by Reuters, said an action plan to boost jobs and growth, while rebalancing global demand and debt, would be readied for a G-20 leaders summit hosted by President Vladimir Putin in September.

"We remain mindful of the risks and unintended negative side effects of extended periods of monetary easing," the draft said. "Future changes to monetary policy settings will continue to be carefully calibrated and clearly communicated."

In return for its pledge to 'message' its monetary policy intentions clearly, Washington managed to ensure that the text contained no binding fiscal targets, saying that consolidation should be "calibrated" to economic conditions.

Sources at the meeting said Germany was less assertive than previously in seeking binding targets to reduce borrowing to follow on from a deal struck in Toronto in 2010, with the improving US economy adding weight to Washington's call to focus on growth.

With youth unemployment rates approaching 60 per cent in Euro zone strugglers Greece and Spain, the growth versus austerity debate has shifted - reflected in the fact that G-20 finance and labour ministers held a joint session on Friday.

The crisis in the Euro zone periphery has been exacerbated by capital outflows, and the communique pledged to move "decisively" towards creating a banking union in Europe that could revive cross-border lending.

Unlike at previous G-20 gatherings, exchange rates and the threat of competitive devaluations barely figured, delegates said.