WEF 'Global Economic Outlook' Talk w/Lagarde & Lindner At Top Of Hour

A talk on the Global Economic Outlook is scheduledto take place at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos at the top of the hour (0500ET/1000GMT/1100CET). Speakers on the panel include ECB President Christine Lagarde, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

• Description of talk: "With the global economy at a crossroads, policy-makers must balance the need for action on growth and inflation with structural imperatives on promoting human development and ensuring an orderly energy transition. What trade-offs and dilemmas will governments face as they seek to leverage the right economic tools and ensure sustainable, long-term growth?"
• While the topic is ostensibly global in focus, each speaker could have notable comments for markets to take into account.
  • For Lagarde, the ECB's blackout period about to come in ahead of next week's rate decision making this one of the final chances for markets to hear from a governing council member.
  • The German gov't remains riven by inter-party squabbles over the 2024 budget and is facing down major protests by farmers and rising support for the far-right.
  • Tensions in the Middle East sit at multi-year highs, with major international focus on shipping in the Red Sea and the risk of regional escalation. Al-Jadaan's comments likely to gain extra scrutiny.