PARIS (MNI) – French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde
welcomed Monday the death of Osama Bin Laden and the likely positive
impact it could have on the U.S. economy.
It is some “very, very powerful news” for the U.S. people and “of
course” a victory for President Barack Obama, Lagarde said in a
television interview. “One can only be happy.”
Asked about the likely impact on the U.S. economy, the
minister said there would be “probably a return of confidence,” adding
that she was “not surprised” at the immediate rebound of the dollar.
“With confidence returning, the U.S. stock market will probably
celebrate the event today,” she said. “We’re already seeing a recovery
of the dollar. Thus, yes, U.S. players, economic players themselves will
celebreate the event.”
However, Lagarde cautioned that it would take some time for a wider
impact on the economy and said that she was sticking to her forecast for
domestic GDP growth of 2% this year.
–Paris newsroom +331 4271 5540; e-mail: stephen@marketnews.com
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