IMF and World Bank annual meetings open in Bangkok this week, drawing multiple central bank governors. Fed chair KEVIN WARSH will speak Friday and the IMF’s updated World Economic Outlook is due Tuesday. The IMF has cut global GDP forecasts twice this year, citing the Iran war; IMF chief GEORGIEVA signalled the WEO is likely to be downbeat because of high energy prices, record public debt and strained bond markets. Delegates will focus on Middle East and Ukraine conflicts, rising geopolitical fr

IMF and World Bank annual meetings open in Bangkok this week, drawing multiple central bank governors. Fed chair KEVIN WARSH will speak Friday and the IMF’s updated World Economic Outlook is due Tuesday. The IMF has cut global GDP forecasts twice this year, citing the Iran war; IMF chief GEORGIEVA signalled the WEO is likely to be downbeat because of high energy prices, record public debt and strained bond markets. Delegates will focus on Middle East and Ukraine conflicts, rising geopolitical fragmentation and the implications for growth, interest rates and liquidity; AI regulation will also be discussed. Debt-watchers will be alert to any signs France could push the eurozone back toward sovereign stress.