World GDP Seen Growing at 4.3%

The world economy is forecast to expand at a 4.3% rate this year as stronger-than-expected growth in the U.S., China and elsewhere balances weakness in Europe and Japan, according to International Monetary Fund figures obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.

The IMF expects the U.S. economy to grow at a 3.6% rate this year, up from a previous 3.5% projection, but sees Japanese gross domestic product rising just 0.7%, down from 2.3%.

Growth in Europe is also seen as weaker than last fall at 1.6%, against the 2.2% foreseen earlier.