International Monetary Fund

Bank of Cyprus' Big Depositors to Lose Up to 60% of Savings

Big depositors at Cyprus' largest bank may be forced to accept losses of up to 60 percent, far more than initially estimated, as part of the country's bankruptcy rescue plan.

Cyprus Bailout Deal Approved by European Finance Officials

A deal reached early Monday prevents Cyprus' imminent financial meltdown by securing a last-minute $13 billion bailout.

Cyprus Scrambles to Devise Plan to Avert Banking Crisis

Cypriot officials are scrambling to cement a revised plan to raise funds demanded by international creditors in exchange for an international bailout.

Cyprus Seeks Alternative Solution to Debt Crisis

Cyprus is working on a secondary proposal to stave off bankruptcy, after lawmakers rejected a plan to raise billions of euros by seizing up to 10 percent of people's savings.

Behind Cyprus' Plan to Seize Bank Deposits

A plan to seize up to 10 percent of Cypriot's savings has been met with fury and raised concern, if not panic, in the rest of Europe about the security of bank deposits.

Markets Nervous as Eurozone Finance Ministers Meet on Greece

Concerns that European finance ministers will again fail to reach an agreement on handing over more bailout cash to Greece weighed on markets Monday. In addition, an election in Spain's Catalonia region that saw separatists gain ground is also adding to global investor worries.

Syria Is Burning, but Still a Better Place to Invest Than Greece

Syria's ongoing civil war has claimed more than 28,000 lives, left 1.5 million people homeless, and sent 500,000 Syrians into exile. But as far as CFOs are concerned, it's still a better place for foreign investment than debt-battered, austerity-riven Greece.

Stocks Slide from Near 5-Year Highs, and Investors Wait for Earnings

Stocks slumped Tuesday on Wall Street after the International Monetary Fund predicted weaker world economic growth and as investors waited for what they expected to be lower corporate earnings.

Offshored Trillions: The Hidden Economy That's Robbing the World

Tax havens are big news in the U.S., but a recent study shows that, when it comes to offshoring cash to dodge taxes, Americans are amateurs. Globally, tax havens are used to hide an estimated $21 trillion, more than the entire U.S. GDP.

IMF Says China's Economy Has Managed a 'Soft Landing'

China has achieved a "soft landing" in its economic slowdown, the IMF says, while cautioning that more sweeping reforms are needed to ensure healthy growth in the longer term.

Double-Dip Recession Hits Eurozone as Crisis Clouds Swirl

The eurozone has sunk back into its second recession since 2009, a Reuters poll predicted on Thursday, as the debt crisis that has ravaged the continent for over two years continues to stifle growth.

European Central Bank Cuts Rates to New Low to Help Economy

The European Central Bank has cut its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to a record low of 0.75% to boost a eurozone economy weighed down by the continent's crisis over too much government debt.

Business Leaders Cry for Urgent Action at G20 Meeting

Top business executives from about 350 companies are urging world leaders to show more urgency in addressing economic malaise or risk an even deeper global crisis than in 2008-2009.

OECD Warns of 'Severe Recession' Looming for Eurozone

The 17-country eurozone risks falling into a "severe recession," the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned on Tuesday, as it called on governments and Europe's central bank to act quickly to keep the slowdown from spreading.

IMF Sharply Downgrades U.S. Economic Outlook

The International Monetary Fund has sharply downgraded its outlook for the U.S. economy through 2012 because of weak growth and concern that Europe won't be able to solve its debt crisis.

Financial Landscape: Banks Get No Love; OPEC Vs. OPEC

As a new week begins on Wall Street, nobody wants bank stocks, J.P. Morgan Chase hints at changes at the top, OPEC ministers tussle over crude, and airlines are in for some financial turbulence. In fact, the only good news is for France, which apparently won't lose the IMF over the DSK scandal.

IMF Lays Out the Challenges Ahead for Global Recovery

In its latest report, the IMF applauds national policymakers for stabilizing credit markets and putting the global economy on a recovery track. However, thorny problems remain -- including how to prevent overheating in emerging markets, and how to cut the U.S. deficit while lowering its unemployment rate.

Why Interest Rates Keep Rising, Despite QE2

The Federal Reserve is doling out billions to buy bonds in hopes of keeping interest rates low and stimulating the economy. However, several powerful forces are working against that low-rate strategy, ranging from investor psychology to global competition for capital.

Ireland's Austerity Budget:
Not Likely to Avoid Default

Simply put, the losses Irish taxpayers will be forced to cover are larger than the nation's economy can support, even with the promised bailout. The EU and Irish political leadership's attempts to put a brave face on the crisis is no match for this crippling burden.

Ireland Deal: Euro-Politics Plays a Major Role

Investors should stay focused on the dynamics within European politics that shaped the rescue. Other indebted economies -- like Spain, Portugal and Italy -- could find themselves in a similar situation, after all. And politics will again guide market moves.

Can China Control an Overheating Economy?

As if the Irish debt crisis weren't enough, investors are worried once again about rising inflation in China. But officials in Beijing are quietly building an impressive record of economic management, and some analysts are convinced they can meet the challenge.

Top Economists See Consumers Rebounding Faster

Forget the gloomy predictions: According to Richard Berner of Morgan Stanley, U.S. consumers are a year ahead of schedule in repairing their household balance sheets, giving them the ability to start spending again soon. And the head of the IMF was explicit Monday: A double dip is unlikely.

Europe's Debt Crisis: Here We Go Again?

Europe's shakiest economies managed to ride out a sovereign debt crisis this spring with a lot of help from their more stable neighbors and the major central banks. But new data suggests we may soon see a replay of the debt default crisis.

Were the European Bank Stress Tests Too Easy?

Banking regulators tested the soundness of 91 European banks this week to see if they could withstand a financial crisis, and only seven failed to pass muster. But some analysts say the tests may have been too easy, and wonder what would happen if a real "worst-case scenario" hit.

European Central Bank Keeps Rates Low

It may be because of the slowing European economy, the drive for austerity by the continent's national governments, or planned tax increases. But whatever the reasons, the European Central Bank said Thursday it would hold its benchmark interest rate steady at 1%.

How the Greek Rescue Could Play Into U.S. Stock Prices

It will likely depend on how the euro moves against the dollar. A stronger euro now could help U.S. exporters. But considering the depths of the EU's woes, the euro could still be headed lower longer term. And even that might not be bad for U.S. stocks.