The International Monetary Fund on Friday activated a $581 billion crisis fund as expected after support from member countries. The fund - New Arrangements to Borrow - was expanded in 2009 following a call by Group of 20 major economies as a confidence building measure at a time of heightened global uncertainty.
"(The IMF) executive board has formally completed the process of activation of the expanded New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB)," the IMF said in a statement.