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Business/Finance See other Business/Finance Articles Title: IMF and Iceland Outline $2.1 Billion Loan Plan (October 24, 2008) IMF and Iceland Outline $2.1 Billion Loan Plan IMF Survey online October 24, 2008 - IMF staff mission and Icelandic authorities reach outline loan agreement The IMF announced an initial agreement with Iceland on a $2.1 billion two-year loan to support an economic recovery program to help the island restore confidence in its banking system and stabilize its currency. Following review by the IMF's management, the agreement could be presented to the IMF Executive Board for approval in early November. Iceland would be able to draw $833 million immediately after Board approval. "Iceland has put together an ambitious economic program, which aims to restore confidence to the banking system, to stabilize the krona through strong macroeconomic policies, and to help the country achieve medium-term fiscal consolidation following the collapse of its banking system," said IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn. "I believe these strong policies justify the high level of access to Fund resourcesequivalent to 1,190 percent of Iceland's quota in the IMFand deserve the support of the international community. "The authorities' program is focused on the essential upfront measures needed to restore confidence and economic and financial stability. The overarching goal is to support Iceland's effort to adjust to the economic crisis in a more orderly and less painful way," Strauss-Kahn said. Talks with several countries The IMF, which has announced its readiness to lend billions of dollars to support nations hit by fallout from the global financial turmoil, is holding talks with several countries about possible new lending programs, as well as advising governments how to react to the economic downturn. The IMF is in discussions with a number of other countries about possible financing needs, and is providing confidential policy advice to governments in emerging and developing economies on how to adapt to the current turmoil. Loanable funds The IMF has more than $200 billion of loanable funds and can draw on additional resources through two standing borrowing arrangements with groups of IMF member countries. Strauss-Kahn, who helped spearhead the international response to the global financial turmoil during the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington on October 10-13, has emphasized the IMF's readiness to lend quickly to member countries that need help during the ongoing crisis through its emergency financing procedures. The IMF says the financial turmoil hitting advanced economies is starting to slow growth in many emerging markets. The world economy is entering a major downturn in the face of the most dangerous financial shock in mature financial markets since the 1930s, according to the IMF's World Economic Outlook. Comments on this article should be sent to imfsurvey@imf.org Poster Comment: Maybe the ambitious Greeks can do like the Icelanders did; appeal to the IMF for a loan to get them past their initial rough waters. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest
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Iceland Borrowed $2 Billion From IMF
WTF? Is Iceland crazy? I don't get it, even a little bit! The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable. ~ H. L. Mencken
Is Iceland crazy? I don't get it, even a little bit! This article is dated October 24, 2008. The tip-off is mention of Dominic Strauss Kahn. "When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Politicians running amok again? Gee, how might generous of them. (sarc)
JT pulled a good one -- whether he meant to or not :-)
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