Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

On June 29, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the second review of the three-year arrangement with Benin under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The Board’s decision, which was taken on a lapse-of-time basis, makes available SDR 15.917 million (about US$22.4 million) immediately to Benin.

On June 18, 2018, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund completed the second review of the Staff Monitored Program (SMP) with The Gambia. The SMP, which commenced in April 2017, was extended through September 2018 in the context of the first review in March 2018, to enable the authorities to establish a track record for a possible Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement and to incorporate the outcome of the International Conference for The Gambia that was held in Brussels during May 22–23, 2018.

On June 28, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published the Opinion addressed to national supervisory authorities about the duty of insurance undertakings and insurance intermediaries to inform customers about the possible impact of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU).

The Irish economy continues to grow at a rapid pace, well above the EU average. Although headline data are distorted by the volatility of multinationals’ activity, the broad recovery of (modified) domestic demand (4 percent in 2017) underpins the expansion. Strong labor market performance brought the unemployment rate down to below 6 percent by April 2018.

US decision to quit key international deals and start trade war harms EU-US ties, but EU should not give up on transatlantic bond, said committee MEPs on Thursday.

High-speed mobile Internet subscriptions grew by 80 million, or 6.1%, in the year to December 2017, taking mobile broadband penetration to over 102% in the OECD area, according to an update to the OECD's broadband portal, now covering 37 countries including Colombia* and Lithuania.

High-speed mobile Internet subscriptions grew by 80 million, or 6.1%, in the year to December 2017, taking mobile broadband penetration to over 102% in the OECD area, according to an update to the OECD's broadband portal, now covering 37 countries including Colombia* and Lithuania.

China defended its trade practices Thursday as being beneficial to the world as it tries to ease pressure from the United States and Europe to abandon what they consider to be Beijing's protectionist policies.

Since the global financial crisis, macroeconomic performance in Georgia has been positive. Growth was higher than that in most peers, policy frameworks have been strengthened with inflation well-anchored and fiscal deficits broadly well-managed, the banking sector has remained stable—despite a large exchange rate depreciation—and foreign reserves have increased.

The setting-up of a European Solidarity Corps, offering volunteering opportunities around the EU, has been agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators.