IMF chief warns global economy 'not out of the woods yet'

News Image

By MG News | July 16, 2020 at 09:41 AM GMT+05:00

0:00

July 16, 2020: Despite some signs of recovery, the global economy faces continued challenges, including the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19, and governments should keep their support programs in place, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Thursday.

                  Activity "has started to gradually strengthen... But we are not out of the woods yet," Georgieva said in a message to G20 finance ministers ahead of their weekend meeting in Saudi Arabia.

                  The Washington-based crisis lender late last month downgraded its growth forecasts, and now expects global GDP to fall by 4.9 percent this year due to the deeper contraction during lockdowns than previously anticipated, and only a "tepid recovery is expected for next year."

                  The $11 trillion in stimulus provided by the G20 nations helped to prevent a worse outcome, but "these safety nets must be maintained as needed and, in some cases, expanded," Georgieva urged in a blog post.

                  She highlighted measures including paid sick leave for low-income families and access to health care and unemployment insurance.

                  But the recovery faces risks, she said, including the possibility of "a second major global wave of the disease could lead to further disruptions."

                  While she acknowledged that the "substantial and rising debt levels are a serious concern," Georgieva said, "At this stage in the crisis, however, the costs of premature withdrawal are greater than continued support where it is needed."

                  Many countries have moved to reopen, so, "Clearly, we have entered a new phase of the crisis," she said in a blog post, adding it will require "further policy agility and action to secure a durable and shared recovery."

                  Many jobs that have been lost amid the pandemic may never come back, so workers will need support and training to move into new sectors.

                  "The bottom line is that the pandemic is likely to increase poverty and inequality," she said but noted that policymakers have "a once-in-a-century shot" at building a better, greener and more equitable world.

AFP/APP

Related News

Name Price/Vol %Chg/NChg
KSE100 131,949.07
198.95M
0.97%
1262.41
ALLSHR 82,069.26
730.83M
0.94%
764.01
KSE30 40,387.76
80.88M
1.11%
442.31
KMI30 191,376.82
77.76M
0.36%
678.77
KMIALLSHR 55,193.97
350.11M
0.22%
119.82
BKTi 35,828.25
28.42M
3.64%
1259.85
OGTi 28,446.34
6.84M
-1.02%
-293.01
Symbol Bid/Ask High/Low
Name Last High/Low Chg/%Chg
BITCOIN FUTURES 108,125.00 110,525.00
107,865.00
-2290.00
-2.07%
BRENT CRUDE 68.51 68.89
67.75
-0.29
-0.42%
RICHARDS BAY COAL MONTHLY 97.50 0.00
0.00
0.75
0.78%
ROTTERDAM COAL MONTHLY 106.00 106.00
105.85
-2.20
-2.03%
USD RBD PALM OLEIN 998.50 998.50
998.50
0.00
0.00%
CRUDE OIL - WTI 66.50 67.18
66.04
-0.50
-0.75%
SUGAR #11 WORLD 16.37 16.40
15.44
0.79
5.07%

Chart of the Day


Latest News
July 05, 2025 at 11:58 PM GMT+05:00

Weekly Market Roundup


July 05, 2025 at 02:57 PM GMT+05:00

National Savings Schemes see over Rs27bn inflow in May


July 04, 2025 at 10:16 PM GMT+05:00

CAT upholds CCP’s ruling against PREMA Milk


July 04, 2025 at 10:07 PM GMT+05:00

Gold price in Pakistan falls Rs1,500 per tola


July 04, 2025 at 08:01 PM GMT+05:00

TRG in Supreme Court



Top 5 things to watch in this week

Pakistan Stock Movers
Name Last Chg/%Chg
Name Last Chg/%Chg