IMF downgrades India’s growth estimate after demonetisation, upgrades China - Hindustan Times
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IMF downgrades India’s growth estimate after demonetisation, upgrades China

Beijing | ByReuters
Jan 16, 2017 08:04 PM IST

The International Monetary Fund on Monday downgraded India’s growth outlook by 0.4 percentage points to 7.2 % as consumption in Asia’s third-largest economy takes a hit from the government’s recent decision to abolish large currency notes.

The International Monetary Fund on Monday downgraded India’s growth outlook by 0.4 percentage points to 7.2 % as consumption in Asia’s third-largest economy takes a hit from the government’s recent decision to abolish large currency notes.

A man takes a nap outside the ATM which was closed due to unavailability of cash.(HT File Photo)
A man takes a nap outside the ATM which was closed due to unavailability of cash.(HT File Photo)

It also raised its forecast for China’s economic growth this year by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% on expectations of continued policy stimulus.

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India, which has recorded some of the world’s strongest recent growth, is experiencing a shock to consumption from the government’s decision in early November to withdraw larger currency notes from circulation to crack down on tax dodgers and counterfeiters.

Read | Post-demonetisation, RBI’s credibility has been whittled down

China’s economy grew 6.7% over the first three quarters of 2016, in line with the country’s 6.5 to 7% growth target, but risks are also increasing with growth reliant on government spending, record lending by state banks and an overheating property market.

The IMF warned of the risks to China’s economy of a sharp slowdown or disruptive adjustment as the government has been slow to tackle high corporate debt, with capital outflows also potentially exacerbating pressures.

China’s corporate debt has climbed to 169% of GDP and international institutions have repeatedly urged Beijing to act quickly to tackle the problem in order to avoid a financial crisis.

The country’s leadership said China will focus on tackling financial risks this year, and the head of the state planning agency said China would cap the corporate debt ratio at current levels.

The IMF’s forecast for a 6.5 percent expansion this year is roughly in-line with analysts and policy insiders who have said China is likely to target around 6.5 percent growth in 2017.

The IMF raised its forecast for China’s 2016 growth to 6.7 percent from 6.6 percent, but still expects China’s growth to slow to 6.0 percent in 2018.

The institution cited China as a key factor driving a faster global recovery this year, but a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy is also as one of the main downside risks to global growth.

Read | Demonetisation: Why PM must pay attention to YV Reddy’s warning on RBI

Citing the blow to the cash-reliant economy, the IMF chopped a full percentage point off its fiscal 2016-17 growth outlook to 6.6 percent. The fiscal year ends on March 31.

The Fund trimmed its fiscal 2017-18 forecast for India to 7.2 percent from 7.6 percent.

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