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2nd LD Writethru: IMF forecasts world economy to grow at 3.1 pct in 2016

Xinhua, October 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday maintained its forecast for global growth in 2016 at 3.1 percent, saying that subpar growth will continue without determined policy action.

The IMF revised down its 2016 growth prospects for advanced economies following a slowdown in the United States and Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

It expected advanced economies to grow 1.6 percent in 2016, lower than last year's 2.1 percent growth and also down from its July forecast of 1.8 percent.

The Washington-based institution marked up the growth forecast for emerging economies. It expected emerging markets and developing economies to grow 4.2 percent this year, slightly higher than its July forecast of 4.1 percent.

It's the first time growth in both emerging markets and developing economies has accelerated in six years.

"Taken as a whole, the world economy has moved sideways," IMF chief economist Maurice Obstfeld said at a press conference. "Without determined policy action to support economic activity over the short and longer terms, sub-par growth at recent levels risks perpetuating itself - through the negative economic and political forces it is unleashing."

The IMF sharply lowered its forecast for the growth for the United States to 1.6 percent this year from its July forecast of 2.2 percent, following a disappointing first half caused by weak business investment and inventories.

It slightly moved up the 2016 growth forecast for U.K. to 1.8 percent, saying that the market has absorbed impact from the Brexit vote better than expected.

IMF kept its forecast for China's growth in 2016 unchanged at 6.6 percent.

China has made significant progress in shifting its economy towards services and consumption, said Obstfeld, adding that China needed to address medium-term risks, such as excess capacity and shadow banking.

The IMF also maintained its forecast for global growth in 2017 at 3.4 percent, saying that advanced economies will continue along a disappointingly low growth path, while emerging market economies should accelerate.

It warned of the perpetuating low growth and the widening income gap in many countries, which could further fuel anti-trade sentiment and stifle growth.

"These concerns highlight the risks to our projections, which remain titled to the downside," Obstfeld said. Endit