Coming G7

Currencies may be discussed during this week's meeting of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations, but exchange rates are unlikely to be at the heart of talks on the global economic outlook and the necessity to better coordinate macroeconomic policies, a French finance ministry official said Tuesday.




The official added that the G7 won't necessarily issue a final statement.



"These discussions will mostly be informal....it is possible that the G7 will feel the need to communicate on currencies, but it will only do so if it has a particular message to convey on exchange rates," the official said.



"Currencies will come up in the talks when issues of policy coordination are discussed," the official added.



Financial regulation will also be discussed, with the latest proposals by the Obama administration to curb the size of banks and their risks likely to feature high on the agenda, the official added.



The G7 meeting is taking place in Iqaluit, northern Canada, Feb. 5 and Feb. 6.