G7 united against Brexit but can only hope for an 'In' vote
Finance leaders of the Group of Seven industrial powers united over the weekend in wishing that Britain stays in the European Union, but acknowledged they could do little more than hope.
"The G7 did not talk about a Plan B to respond to what would happen if Britain left the European Union," French Finance Minister Michel Sapin told Reuters on Saturday. "We talked about ways to help Britain stay in the EU."
Britain's momentous referendum on whether to stay in the EU has been a prime issue for global markets and policymakers, who can largely only wait and see what Britons will say at the polls on June 23.
The ups and downs of polling data have swayed financial markets for months. Concern over the looming vote is a major risk for the Federal Reserve, which has indicated it may raise U.S. interest rates at its mid-June meeting but expressed concern about a "Brexit."
Sapin did not elaborate on any steps the G7 discussed to keep Britain in the EU, during an interview on the sidelines of their meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Sendai, northeast Japan.
"A Brexit would have heavy consequences," Sapin said. "It would be bad for Britain and bad for Europe, because...