IMF likely to downgrade global growth due to coronavirus - IMF spokesman

The fast-spreading coronavirus will clearly have an impact on global economic growth and the International Monetary Fund is likely to downgrade its growth forecast as a result, a spokesman for the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday. "Clearly the virus is going to have an impact on growth," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told a regular briefing. He gave no specific details.

He said he expected a decision soon on the impact of the coronavirus for the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in April, noting that a range of options was under consideration. Reuters reported Wednesday that officials were considering scaling back the meetings or holding them by teleconference.