Davos 2023: Outlook brighter than feared, fraught with risks

Davos 2023: Outlook brighter than feared, fraught with risks

By Mark John and Brenda Goh DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - The year ahead looks better than feared for the global economy but remains fraught with risks including

By Mark John and Brenda Goh DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - The year ahead looks better than feared for the global economy but remains fraught with risks including

escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and the emergence of a transatlantic trade war, the World Economic Forum's final panel concluded. International Monetary Fund (IMF)

escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and the emergence of a transatlantic trade war, the World Economic Forum's final panel concluded. International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told the Davos audience that what had improved was the potential for China to boost growth and that the IMF now forecast Chinese growth of

Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told the Davos audience that what had improved was the potential for China to boost growth and that the IMF now forecast Chinese growth of

4.4% for 2023. While that was likely to prompt the IMF in coming days to upgrade its current forecast of 2.7% growth for the year ahead, she cautioned against expecting any

4.4% for 2023. While that was likely to prompt the IMF in coming days to upgrade its current forecast of 2.7% growth for the year ahead, she cautioned against expecting any

"dramatic improvement" on that figure. One risk tied to China's re-opening, with its potential to heat up global demand and prices for energy, was that it triggered a new

"dramatic improvement" on that figure. One risk tied to China's re-opening, with its potential to heat up global demand and prices for energy, was that it triggered a new

wave of inflationary pressures only months after this bout had reached its peak. The week-long meeting was dominated by debate on a brewing dispute between the United States

wave of inflationary pressures only months after this bout had reached its peak. The week-long meeting was dominated by debate on a brewing dispute between the United States

and Europe on subsidies for green energy transition, the growing debt distress in developing nations and abundant geopolitical risk around the planet. "My deepest concern is

and Europe on subsidies for green energy transition, the growing debt distress in developing nations and abundant geopolitical risk around the planet. "My deepest concern is

clearly the war in Ukraine," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the panel, warning that escalation was possible while also arguing it had pushed the European Union to

clearly the war in Ukraine," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the panel, warning that escalation was possible while also arguing it had pushed the European Union to

become more of a political force in its resolve to remain supportive of Ukraine. Le Maire, who is involved in efforts to resolve the dispute with Washington over a $369

become more of a political force in its resolve to remain supportive of Ukraine. Le Maire, who is involved in efforts to resolve the dispute with Washington over a $369

billion, state-subsidised climate transition which Europe says is anti-competition, said the plan must be compatible with similar efforts across the world.

billion, state-subsidised climate transition which Europe says is anti-competition, said the plan must be compatible with similar efforts across the world.