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ECB Tightens Grip With 12th Consecutive Rate Hike; Lagarde Asserts ‘No Cuts’ Amid Lingering Inflation Concerns
27.7.2023
The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised the benchmark bank rates by 25 basis points (bps) citing that inflation was down but still remained “too high for too long.” When ECB president Christine Lagarde was pressed about cutting rates by reporters, Lagard insisted the central bank was “not going...
Eurozone Inflation to Remain Higher Than 2% Target in Next 2 Years, ECB’s Lagarde Admits
9.7.2023
Inflation in the eurozone has started to decline but the area’s monetary authority expects it to remain above its target in the next two years. The European Central Bank has to do more to bring it down, its governor commented on the backdrop of stable consumer expectations about rising prices...
Right to Pay With Cash Enshrined in Constitution of Slovakia Amid Digital Euro Fears
21.6.2023
A member of the eurozone is amending its constitution in order to guarantee citizens the right to cash payments. The move comes amid growing fears that a digital version of the common European currency may eventually become the only means of payment in the eurozone, despite currently being touted...
Banks Not Getting Anticipated Benefits From Rate Hikes, ECB Executive Admits
19.5.2023
Eurozone banks are profitable but the benefits from higher interest rates may be smaller than expected, according to the deputy head of the single currency area’s monetary authority. The official noted that while most of the tightening has been done already, more rate increases are to come. Euro...
Rate Hikes Affecting Housing Markets in Eurozone, United States, ECB Study Shows
19.5.2023
Interest rate hikes in the euro area are already causing a decline in housing investment, the zone’s central bank revealed in a study. While smaller than in the United States, the impact of the monetary policy tightening on the Old Continent is likely to grow further, the regulator expects. Housing...
Inflation Expectations of Eurozone Consumers ‘Increased Significantly,’ ECB Says
12.5.2023
Consumers in the euro area have sharply raised their expectations about inflation in the coming months, the European Central Bank revealed. Survey data showing this comes after the monetary authority slowed the pace of its rate hikes last week while indicating that it’s still early for a pause....
ECB Raises Interest Rates by 25bps Amid ‘Too High’ Inflation, ‘No Pause,’ Lagarde Says
5.5.2023
The European Central Bank (ECB) raised its key interest rates by 25 basis points, slowing the pace from previous increases. However, as inflation in the euro area remains persistently high, future rate hikes may still be expected with the regulator insisting it will continue to seek a “timely...
Core Inflation on Upward Trend, Further Rate Hikes Expected, ECB Execs Say
7.4.2023
Amid underlying inflationary pressures, further interest rate increases may still be needed, members of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council have admitted. At the same time, the cycle with the highest hikes may soon be over, the officials indicated. End of Most Aggressive Rate Hikes...
Digital Euro Key for European Payment Autonomy, ECB President Lagarde Says
24.3.2023
The digital euro has an important role in preserving the payment autonomy of Europe, the head of the eurozone’s monetary authority emphasized. The new currency, which is still under development, is meant to be sovereign and safe, cheap and widely available, Christine Lagarde assured during...
Eurozone Finance Ministers Pledge Support for Digital Euro Project, Talk Privacy
19.1.2023
The ministers of finance of the countries in the eurozone reaffirmed their support for efforts to prepare for the potential launch of a digital euro. Meanwhile, the single currency area’s monetary authority sought to reassure future users that the new currency will be “preserving privacy by default...
Rate Hikes Needed to Reduce Eurozone Inflation Despite Recession, Top ECB Official Says
22.12.2022
Interest rates will continue to rise while the euro area falls into recession, a high-ranking executive at the European Central Bank (ECB) has indicated. His statements follow the latest rate increase announced by the monetary authority last week and revised projections showing higher than...
Euro Inflation Hits Record Highs, ECB Not in Rush to Raise Interest Rates
16.1.2022
The European Central Bank is concerned over inflation in the euro area rising beyond its own expectations, a high-ranking ECB official has admitted. However, Europe’s monetary authority is not prepared to raise interest rates at this point in time, the executive unveiled. ECB Sees No Reason...
Eurosystem Approves New Oversight Framework Concerning Crypto Services
23.11.2021
The monetary authority of the euro area, the Eurosystem, has introduced a new framework for overseeing electronic payments, including services related to crypto assets. The new set of rules will complement upcoming EU regulations for cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. ECB Aims for Secure...
ECB Expects Worse Recession in Europe Than Global Economy
14.4.2020
The European Central Bank (ECB) expects the European economy to suffer a more severe recession than the global economy. Countries across the euro area will experience “a deep recession,” which entails unprecedented funding needs of more than €1 trillion ($1.1 trillion), explained...