IMF to cut global growth outlook

Tokyo - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) would lower its assessment of the world economy in 2012, Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Friday.

The global growth outlook "has become more worrisome," Lagarde

said in Tokyo.

"Many indicators of economic activity - investment, employment,manufacturing - have deteriorated and not just in Europe or the United States," she said. "Also in key emerging markets: Brazil, China, India." The announcement would be made in 10 days, she said.

In April, the IMF revised upwards its forecast to 3.5 per cent from the 3.3 per cent it projected in January.

Lagarde said advanced economies must deal with the issue of public debt but warned such reductions should not be so deep as to undermine economic turnarounds. She said she was particularly concerned aboutthe US.//DPA