Greece in billions of financing gap over next 3 years: IMF

Washington, July 3: Financing needs for Greece could add up to over $55.42 billion (50 billion euros) over the period from October 2015 to end 2018 in order to keep the country afloat, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a staff report. The IMF's warning on Thursday came before Greece's upcoming referendum on July 5. Although the Greek government stressed the referendum was on its creditors' offer for a reforms-for-cash debt deal, skepticism and strong reactions that the referendum could lead to Grexit was also widespread in Greece. The report said Greece is unlikely to close its financing gaps from the markets on terms consistent with debt sustainability. It slashed Greece's economic growth forecast in 2015 to zero percent, compared to a growth of 0.8 percent in 2014. The estimate of the additional 50 billion euros in funding, including 36 billion euros from EU lenders, was based on the assumption that existing support from the EU and IMF would continue through this summer.