International Monetary Fund

IMF, World Bank meetings show limits in mitigating shocks, reliance on US

The IMF and the World Bank pledged up to a combined $150 billion in new financing assistance for developing countries hit hardest by the massive energy price shock

Surge in US debt supply may raise global borrowing costs, warns IMF

The IMF pointed to a narrowing gap between the yields of AAA rated corporate bonds and Treasuries as a sign of reduced appeal for US government securities

Defence-spending boom: IMF warns govts against economic imbalance

Suggests governments should be prepared to mitigate economic losses during war

IMF lifts India FY27 growth to 6.5% as lower US tariffs offset risks

IMF has raised India's FY27 growth forecast to 6.5 per cent, saying lower US tariffs could offset the impact of West Asia tensions even as global growth and trade outlook weaken

India got highest number of regressive tax recommendations from IMF: Oxfam

India received the highest number of regressive tax recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 2022 and 2024, according to an analysis by Oxfam. The analysis, released ahead of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, has flagged that the global body is applying "double standard" by giving largely progressive advice to wealthy countries while suggesting regressive measures for others that are "likely to exacerbate inequality". The report said 59 per cent of the IMF's tax advice to low- and lower-middle-income countries was regressive, while 52 per cent of its recommendations to high-income countries were progressive. A regressive tax refers to a uniform taxation system which burdens those in lower income groups more than high earners. In contrast, a tax levied in proportion to one's income is termed progressive. Oxfam examined 1,049 tax recommendations made by the IMF to 125 countries between 2022 and 2024 and found that only 30 recommendations,

IMF chief Georgieva warns world 'ill-equipped' to counter Iran war risks

By choking off shipments from the energy-rich Gulf region, the war has triggered a "negative supply shock, meaning that it pushes prices up, said Kristalina Georgieva

IMF urges preparation for 'unthinkable' amid prolonged West Asia conflict

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warns a prolonged West Asia conflict could hit market sentiment, growth and inflation, urging policymakers to prepare for a "new normal" of global shocks

IMF sees 'buoyant' US economy, warns of risks from tariffs, rising debt

A "buoyant" US economy is poised to see accelerated growth and lower unemployment this year. But big federal budget debts "represent a growing stability risk," the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday. The 191-country lending organisation's assessment of the world's biggest economy was mostly positive. The IMF saw US gross domestic product - the country's output of goods and services - growing 2.4 per cent in fourth-quarter 2026 from the last three months of 2025, up from 2.2 per cent growth the year before. It sees US unemployment dropping from 4.5 per cent in late 2025 to 4.1 per cent in 2026 and inflation falling to the Federal Reserve's 2 per cent target by 2027. IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said the Fed, which cut its benchmark interest rate three times in 2025, could afford to push it down to around 3.4 per cent from 3.6 per cent currently. But it should hold off on deeper cuts barring a "material worsening'' in the American job market, she said. The United

Sri Lanka's fund facility to continue despite Cyclone Ditwah impact: IMF

The IMF's current Sri Lanka bail out would continue with no changes despite the economic impact due to widespread devastation after Cyclone Ditwah, a delegation of the global lender told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday. The representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who are in Sri Lanka to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah that left over 600 dead in late November, met with Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat, the President's Media Division (PMD) said here. The IMF conveyed that Sri Lanka is currently moving in the right economic direction despite facing a severe disaster situation, Dissanayake's office said, adding, "the IMF representatives stated that there would be no changes to the agreement relating to the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme being implemented with Sri Lanka." The discussions relating to the release of the sixth tranche under the programme would resume in March, it added. Sri Lanka is to receive around USD 330 .

IMF upgrades India's FY27 GDP growth to 6.4% despite trade risks

For FY26, the Fund, in its World Economic Outlook, revised its GDP growth forecast upwards to 7.3%

2025 was a reckoning for 'experts' who claim to forecast the future

There's no shortage of forecasts for 2026, but 2025 shows why we should treat them with scepticism

IMF asks Pakistan to scale back remittance incentives amid hawala fears

The recommendation was included in a staff-level report released by the IMF earlier this month after the second review of its $7 billion bailout programme

How consistent is IMF's exchange rate regime classification, data adequacy?

When seen historically, India's exchange rate arrangement, both de-facto and de-jure, was floating from 1999 to 2022 (independent, managed, and floating)

India's new GDP series in February 2026 to spur IMF rating upgrade

The IMF has 'assured' that its 'C' rating for India's national accounts data will be reassessed once the new gdp series is released in feb 2026

'Zombie firms' reflect inefficient insolvency resolution, says IMF report

The IMF has said the IBC Amendment Bill addresses several deficiencies but leaves key issues unresolved, including operational creditors' voting rights, executory contract rules and persistent delays

Policy framework: Sustained improvement will boost economic confidence

In the context of fiscal management, the IMF noted that with a revision in the gross domestic product base in 2026, India should revisit debt targets to make them more ambitious

IMF reclassifies India's forex regime as 'crawl-like arrangement'

The Fund cites declining RBI interventions but warns that India's FX restrictions and slow structural reforms could hinder long-term growth

Review medium-term debt target, make it more ambitious: IMF to Centre

In its Article 4 review, the Fund called for broader debt anchors, stronger state-level reforms and careful monitoring of tax cuts as India continues fiscal consolidation

India must fire on all cylinders to reach Viksit Bharat goal: IMF

Krishna Srinivasan urges structural reforms, trade liberalisation, and deeper global integration

Pakistan, IMF reach staff-level agreement for $1.2 billion loan deal

Pakistan and the IMF on Wednesday reached a staff-level agreement (SLA) on the country's loan programmes, paving the way for Islamabad to access USD 1.2 billion, pending approval from the global lender's board. The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) will provide Pakistan with USD 1 billion under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and USD 200 million under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) after approval from the fund's board. Last week, an IMF mission led by Iva Petrova concluded talks with Pakistani authorities on the second review of the EFF agreed in 2024 and the first review for the RSF climate loan agreed this year, but it left Pakistan without signing a staff-level agreement. In a statement issued early on Wednesday, Petrova stated that the staff-level agreement remained subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board. Supported by the EFF, Pakistan's economic programme is entrenching macroeconomic stability and rebuilding market confidence, she ..