IMF Downgrades U.S. Growth; Goldcorp Closes Mexican Mine

​by Jeff Yoders on OCTOBER 4, 2016

The IMF has downgraded its U.S. growth outlook and Canada’s Goldcorp has been forced to shut down one of its largest mines in Mexico.

IMF Downgrades U.S.

The International Monetary Fund is downgrading its forecast for the U.S. economy this year and warns that political discontent threatens global growth.

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The IMF on Tuesday cut its estimate for U.S. economic growth in 2016 to 1.6% from the 2.2% it had predicted in July. The American economy grew 2.6% in 2015. The fund’s dimmer outlook for the U.S. occurs even as the Federal Reserve is thought to be preparing to raise interest rates in December.

The global economy will expand 3.1% this year, it said — the same as forecast in July.

The IMF described worldwide growth as “subpar,” with a slowdown in the U.S. and other advanced economies being offset by slightly stronger output in developing and emerging nations.

Goldcorp Shuts Down Blockaded Mexican Mine

Goldcorp Inc. said on Monday it was temporarily shutting down its Peñasquito gold mine in Mexico as it was unable to safely continue operations due to a week-long blockade by a trucking contractor, sending its shares down nearly 5%.

The world’s No. 3 gold miner by market value said it was unable to bring in food, water and fuel for the 750 people on the site, which has been blockaded by a contractor concerned about losing business due to efficiency improvements at the mine.