IMF ‘downplayed risk of financial crisis’

IMF ‘downplayed risk of financial crisis’

An investigation of the International Monetary Fund concluded that the institution
downplayed the risks faced by the world economy before the 2008 financial crisis. The
enquiry was carried out by the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office. Andrew Walker reports:
The report includes some striking criticism of the IMF’s performance ahead of the crisis. The
agency provided few clear warnings about the risks, the report says.
IMF surveillance of the economic situation was characterised by over-confidence in the
soundness of large financial institutions. The risks associated with housing booms and
financial innovations, subsequently called toxic assets, were downplayed.
The IMF’s managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn welcomed the report, which he said
puts forward many constructive ideas and is consistent with the Fund’s own analysis.
The IMF has had a central role in responding to the crisis, with emergency loans and other
assistance for some countries. The IMF has a continuing role in dealing with the financial
problems in the Euro area, where it is providing loans to both Ireland and Greece.
Andrew Walker, BBC News

Vocabulary and definitions

striking	very noticeable or unusual
warnings	things said or written to tell people about a possible danger
surveillance	careful watching of something
soundness	stability
housing booms	times when a lot of houses are being built and sold for high prices
toxic assets	investments backed by risky mortgages that are held by large banks, and that have lost value, dragging down banks’ balance sheets
puts forward	suggests or presents
constructive	helpful or positive actions or comments
consistent	behaviour or actions which are the same over a period of time
emergency loans	lending of money which is desperately needed

More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12406718
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