The International Monetary Fund has urged countries to safeguard financial stability, as the Fund downgraded global economic growth to 3.1% due to war in the Middle East.

This came in a news conference given by Director of the IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department, Tobias Adrian, who spoke with reporters just after the release of the Global Financial Stability Report as part of the ongoing Spring Meetings in Washington D.C..

“[I]t is important for countries to safeguard financial stability by closely watching the evolution of vulnerabilities, which are compounded by limited policy space.” Adrian told reporters.

This should not be cause to panic, as Adrian described the global financial markets as remaining orderly despite being tested by war.

He said, “Financial markets are being tested by the war in the Middle East, though the broader financial system has been resilient so far while banks are well-capitalized and liquid.”

“Markets have been functioning in an orderly manner, and central banks have been supporting markets in several countries through liquidity facilities,” he said.

Elevated debt and rollover risk continue to make bond markets fragile in some countries, while risks in private credit and technology investment are a particular focus, IMF quoted Adrian in its Daily Wrap Tuesday of the annual weeklong annual gathering.

“The task for policymakers is not in and of itself to predict shocks, Adrian said. “But rather to ensure that vulnerabilities are contained, are understood, and that actions can be taken if there are any instabilities that arise.”

The 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Spring Meetings are held April 13–18 in Washington, D.C., bringing together policymakers to discuss global economic issues like growth, financial stability, and poverty reduction.

The meetings feature the Development Committee and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), focusing this year on tackling global economic resilience amid shocks, such as the war in the Middle East.

The 2026 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings sideline events (April 13–18) feature high-level, often invite-only discussions focusing on global debt, climate finance, and regional economic strategies, including tailored dialogues for Africa and Latin America.

Key sessions cover structural reforms, African credit rating ecosystem reforms, and private sector-led growth in a multipolar world.