international monetary fund

The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that it's aiming to increase its financial firepower by around $500 billion so it can give out new loans to help ease a worsening financial crisis.

The International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday that China's banks face growing risks that might hamper growth, adding to concern about the world's second-largest economy amid Europe's debt crisis.

The chief of the International Monetary Fund said Saturday that Italy's financial reform is key to reducing the impact of the eurozone crisis, and that no country is immune to the consequences if the efforts fall short.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was holding talks with the head of the International Monetary Fund Monday over how his country can provide support to ailing eurozone countries.

Christine Lagarde, the former French finance minister, has become independent since taking over as chief of the International Monetary Fund, which is meeting Saturday in Washington, D.C.

The International Monetary Fund says the global financial system is more vulnerable than at any point since the 2008 financial crisis.

The world economy has entered a "dangerous new phase," according to the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund.

As a result, the international lending organization has sharply downgraded its economic outlook for the United States and Europe through the end of next year.

Gainers

• iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX) up 5.10 percent to $43.67. The CBOE VIX is elevated again today, up 10 percent, as meetings of European finance ministers over the weekend ended with little progress on default resolutions for Greece.
  
  According to the WSJ, a teleconference between the European Union, International Monetary Fund, and European Central Bank will occur Monday to discuss how Greece's compliance to receive additional funds is coming along.

Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn returned home to France on Sunday for the first time since a New York hotel maid accused him of attempted rape, unleashing an international scandal that dashed his chances for the French presidency.

The new head of the International Monetary Fund urged U.S. policymakers to take more aggressive steps to stimulate the economy and ease the housing crisis.