Bundesbank’s Weidmann Doesn’t Rule Out Tighter ECB Policy Amid Inflation Rise
ZURICH (MaceNews) – In the face of a sharp inflation increase, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann said he doesn’t rule out higher interest rates from the European Central Bank. In an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Weidmann said that euro member states should not rely on the central bank to help finance an […]
ECB Adds Dovish Tweak To Forward Guidance, Hints at Governing Council Disagreement On Rates
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank adopted a more dovish tone after its latest rate-setting meeting, but ECB President Christine Lagarde hinted at a lack of agreement among Governing Council members over interest rate policy. Adopting new forward guidance in the wake of a policy review unveiled on 8 July, the […]
ECB Decision to Accelerate PEPP Purchases Was Not Reached Unanimously
By Laurie Laird — Some Governing Council members advocated a slowdown in bond buying, according to minutes of June meeting LONDON (MaceNews) – Not all European Central Bank rate setters supported the most recent decision to accelerate asset purchases, with some advocating a slower pace of acquisitions as the eurozone economy outperforms expectations. “In view […]
ECB Lifts Inflation Target to 2%, Willing to Tolerate Overshoot
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank Thursday lifted its inflation target to 2% and vowed to tolerate a short-term overshoot of the target. The new target is “not a ceiling,” said ECB President Christine Lagarde, presenting the Bank’s strategy review. Previously the bank aimed for a target of close to but […]
Bundesbank’s Weidmann: Sharp Price Rises in Germany ‘Temporary;’ No Signs of Excessive Medium-Term Price Pressures
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann that current price increases in Germany are of a temporary nature and that he doesn’t see signs of higher inflation rates solidifying. In an interview with the business daily Handelsblatt, Weidmann said that “from our viewpoint, the sharp price increases in Germany are temporary and there aren’t signs […]
ECB to Continue Accelerated PEPP Purchases Despite Brighter Outlook
— Lagarde cites some “divergence of views” over policy stance By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The ECB will extend its accelerated pace of asset purchases despite a sharp upward revision to growth prospects, but President Christine Lagarde signaled some disagreement amongst rate setters about the appropriate policy stance. “There was some divergence on particular […]
Euro Use Remained Near Historic Lows in 2020; Share of Official Reserves Falls
–ECB’S Panetta Hails Steadiness in Comparison with Sovereign Debt Crisis By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The euro’s share in global transactions remained at 19% in 2020, a performance hailed as an accomplishment by a senior ECB official given the low rates of return in the bloc. The share of euro transactions “has not decreased; […]
ECB’S Chief Economist Highlights Effect of Corporate Bond Purchases; Hints at Clarification of Inflation Targeting
By Laurie Laird — Central banks must be willing to countenance above-target inflation, says Philip Lane LONDON (MaceNews) – Corporate bond purchases have made an important contribution to the European Central Bank’s stimulus programme, according to the ECB’s chief economist, who also hinted at a possible reinterpretation of the Bank’s efforts to meet its inflation […]
ECB To Accelerate PEPP Purchases With Immediate Outlook Still Subject to Downside Risks
By Laurie Laird — April meeting Affirms Conclusions of March gathering LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank will continue to accelerate purchases through its emergency quantitative easing programme, with the eurozone economy still facing immediate downside risks. An “ample degree” of monetary accommodation remains necessary, said ECB President Christine Lagarde, briefing reporters after Thursday’s […]
ECB Rate Setter Refuses to Rule Out Additional PEPP Purchases to Lift Inflation to Target
By Laurie Laird — Fabio Panetta calls inflation outlook “unsatisfactory” LONDON (MaceNews) – A leading European central banker lamented the eurozone’s chronically-low inflation, refusing to rule out an extension of the current asset purchase programme if inflation remains below target. “We do have room for manoeuvre, because so far we have only used part of […]