LONDON (MNI) - UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today that he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy remain worried about the "fragility" of the world economic recovery.

"We are worried about the fragility of the global economic recovery - we are worried about the risks to it," Brown said at a press conference here following his meeting with Sarkozy.

Both leaders agreed at a meeting here to maintain economic stimulus policies in order "to create high global growth".

The "G20 must move with more determination, more consistency and more speed," Brown said.

LONDON (MNI) - UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today that he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy remain worried about the "fragility" of the world economic recovery.

"We are worried about the fragility of the global economic recovery - we are worried about the risks to it," Brown said in a press conference following their meeting here.

Both leaders agreed to maintain economic stimulus policies in order "to create high global growth".

The "G20 must move with more determination, more consistency and more speed," Brown said.

LONDON (MNI) - There is evidence that the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee's quantitative easing strategy is having the desired effect, but there is still a long way to go, BOE Chief Economist Spencer Dale said in a speech in Cambridge.

LONDON (MNI) - The public's inflation expectations only nudged higher in response to the sharp rise in headline inflation, the latest Bank of England/NOP survey found.

LONDON (MNI) - UK output was up 0.3% in the three months through February from the previous three months, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said Wednesday.

The 0.3% growth is weaker than the 0.6% growth NIESR estimated for the three months through January. NIESR said the more rapid rise in growth in the November to January period was enhanced by the very weak activity seen in August through October and February growth was a truer reflection of the underlying pace of growth.

LONDON (MNI) - Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Member Adam Posen has downplayed the significance of the recent drop in sterling.

Posen, in a Sky TV interview, also said further quantitative easing would not be needed if the economic recovery was strong but further policy measures could be needed if there were negative developments.

"There's always a danger of reading too much into short-term currency moves," Posen said.

LONDON (MNI) - UK Treasury Minister Stephen Timms reiterated today that fiscal support must be maintained for the economy in order to avoid the risk of a "new, more damaging recession".

Timms told BBC Radio 4 that the pay freeze announced today for many public sector workers would help the government meet its goal of cutting the budget deficit in half over the next 4 years.

dthomas@marketnews.com/drobinso@marketnews.com

LONDON (MNI) - Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Member Adam Posen downplayed the significance of the recent drop in sterling.

Posen, in a Sky TV interview, also said further quantitative easing would not be needed if the economic recovery was strong but further policy measures could be needed if there were negative developments.

"There's always a danger of reading too much into short-term currency moves," Posen said.