Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde | EPA/JIM LO SCALZO IMF chief warns against Brexit

The United Kingdom's economic growth could be at risk because of uncertainty over its position in Europe, the International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday.

The Fund said holding an In/Out referendum on EU membership was a risk to U.K. growth, which is also under pressure from slowing global trade and uncertainty on financial markets.

IMF boss Christine Lagarde told CNN: “Uncertainty is bad in and of itself. No economic player likes uncertainty. They don’t invest, they don’t hire, they don’t make decisions in times of uncertainty.”

Trade and financial ties between the U.K. and EU have benefited both sides, the former French cabinet minister said.

“My hunch … is that it [Brexit] is bound to be a negative on all fronts. For those who stay, because there are fewer of them, and for those who go, because they lose the benefit of that facilitation of exchange.”

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