Debt News

IMF flags surging, risky corporate debt, calls for more oversight

By AFP

Washington - Low borrowing rates put in place amid a slowing economy -- partly caused by uncertainty created by the US-China trade war -- have sparked a surge in risky corporate borrowing which could sow the seeds of a new global crisis, the International Monetary ...

Greece requests early IMF repayment: PM

By AFP

Athens - Greece on Monday officially requested to repay part of its IMF loans beforethe maturity date, the prime minister said, in a bid to save interest rate costs.

Fitch upgrades Ukraine's debt rating, outlook positive

By AFP

Washington - The ratings agency Fitch on Friday upgraded Ukraine's sovereign debt to "B" from "B-," pointing to the country's increasing political and economic stability as well as falling debt levels.

Argentina asks IMF to restructure debt payments

By AFP

Buenos Aires - Argentina asked the International Monetary Fund to restructure its debt payments on the $56 billion bail-out loan agreed last year in a bid to calm market turbulence, Finance Minister Hernan Lacunza said Wednesday.

Average U.S. student debt rises to $28,565 per person

By Tim Sandle

LendEDU has published its fourth annual 'Student Loan Debt by School by State Report' that lists the average student debt per borrower figures at nearly 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities throughout the country. This shows a rise in debt rates.

Fitch, S&P downgrade Argentina's credit rating on rising uncertainty

By AFP

Buenos Aires - Argentina's peso ended a tumultuous week Friday having shed 20 percent in its value against the US dollar as both Fitch and S&P cut the South American country's long-term credit rating, citing increased uncertainty and a rising risk of default.

Democrats, White House near deal to raise debt ceiling

By AFP

Washington - US Democrats have nearly reached a deal with the Trump administration to raise the debt ceiling, allowing the government to borrow more money and avoid a disastrous default, sources close to the negotiations said Monday.

France sinks deeper into debt

By AFP

Paris - France has slipped further into the red, the national statistics bureau said on Friday, only days after the country's public auditor warned of "worrying" debt levels.Public debt rose to 99.

EU states adopt 'panda bonds' in Chinese outreach

By AFP

Paris - EU members Hungary, Poland, Portugal and soon Austria are strengthening ties with China by issuing attractive "panda bonds" that help Beijing raise its profile on international financial markets.

Italy braced for 3 billion-euro Brussels fine: Salvini

By AFP

Rome - Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday he expected Brussels to slap Rome with a three billion-euro ($3.36 billion) fine over the country's rising debt and structural deficit levels.

Financial data reveals women to be more in debt than men

By Tim Sandle

Men or women: who are fares better with money matters? New data pertaining shows that it’s men. This comes from a survey undertaken by STASH, who produce a consumer investment app. The survey marks financial literacy month.

IMF warns rising debt makes economy more vulnerable

By AFP

Washington - Rising corporate and government debt levels and the sharp increase in more risky lending could leave the global economy vulnerable to another severe downturn, the International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday.

Venezuela's Guaido extends olive branch to China

By AFP

Bejing - Venezuela's self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido has promised China he will honour bilateral agreements and said he was ready to start a dialogue with Beijing "as soon as possible".

Mozambique ex-minister in S.Africa court over loan scandal

By AFP

Johanesburg - Mozambique's former finance minister Manuel Chang made a brief court appearance in Johannesburg on Tuesday after being arrested at the city's airport over alleged secret loans to Mozambican state companies totalling $2 billion.

Italian MPs approve revised budget after EU standoff

By AFP

Rome - Italian lawmakers passed Saturday the populist government's revised 2019 budget before a year-end deadline, despite complaints from the opposition that it was dictated by Brussels and had been rammed through without debate.

Italy Senate passes revised budget after EU standoff

By AFP

Rome - The Italian Senate on Sunday passed a revised 2019 budget agreed after a tense standoff with Brussels which saw the populist government water down key measures.

Cuba says unable to pay off debt commitments in 2019

By AFP

Havana - Cuba's government admitted on Friday that it won't be able to pay all its debt commitments in 2019, blaming Hurricane Irma and United States sanctions for its woes.

Italy and EU reach budget truce as Rome backs down

By AFP

Apo - The EU and Italy on Wednesday called a truce in their bitter row over Rome's disputed 2019 budget, as the populist government agreed to put off signature reforms.

Italy has verbal agreement with EU on 2019 budget: media

By AFP

Rome - Italy's government has reached a verbal agreement with the EU on the country's disputed 2019 budget following discussions with senior officials in Brussels, according to sources close to the government cited by Italian media Wednesday.

Greek lawmakers adopt first post-crisis budget

By AFP

Atenas - Greek lawmakers on Tuesday adopted the first budget free of foreign assistance in almost 10 years, predicting economic growth of 2.5 percent in 2019, better than the expected eurozone average.The budget includes 900 million euros ($1.

Moscovici says working to avoid sanctions on Italy

By AFP

Paris - European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Tuesday he was working to avoid Italy being sanctioned over its 2019 budget, reiterating that Rome and Paris were not being held to two different standards.

IMF's Lagarde says likely to approve Ukraine loan after Dec 10

By AFP

Washington - The International Monetary Fund board will meet to approve a new loan deal for Ukraine "promptly" after December 10, once the country implements key policy steps including raising gas and heating rates, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday.

Indebted Maldives sending envoy to China

By AFP

Male - The Maldives foreign minister will visit Beijing before the end of 2018, officials said Wednesday, likely seeking to renegotiate the archipelago's Chinese debt.

Eurozone ministers face defiant Italy on budget

By AFP

Apo - Exasperated eurozone finance ministers are expected to back Brussels in the row over Italy's budget on Monday, setting the stage for market turmoil not seen since the debt crisis.

IMF board approves increased loan package for Argentina

By AFP

Washington - The International Monetary Fund executive board on Friday approved an increased loan package for Argentina worth $56 billion to help stabilize the crisis-battered country's economy and currency.The IMF said the approval released $5.

IMF board approves $56 bn loan package for Argentina

By AFP

Washington - The International Monetary Fund executive board on Friday approved a $56 billion loan package for Argentina to help stabilize the crisis-battered country's economy.The IMF said the approval released $5.7 billion to the government immediately.