ECB Watch ECB to continue to resist bigger bond purchases After two consecutive cuts in interest rates, the European Central Bank (ECB) looks set to hold fire at its first policy meeting of 2012 on January 12th. And while further interest rate cuts are still... 6th January 2012 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Another rate cut, but no silver bullet The European Central Bank will respond to the growing evidence that the euro-zone economy is heading back into recession by cutting interest rates to 1% at its December 8th meeting. What’s more... 1st December 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch No rate cut yet, but more bond buying While the news on the euro-zone economy points strongly to the need for more policy support, there have been few hints that the ECB is intending to cut interest rates at its November meeting. However... 28th October 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Laying the groundwork for policy loosening At the press conference following his final meeting as ECB President, Jean-Claude Trichet will strike a more downbeat tone, suggesting that interest rate cuts are not far off. We are still pencilling... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Is the ECB about to turn? The ECB is likely to soften its tone markedly at this month’s press conference amid signs of a significant deterioration in economic activity. With inflation risks probably no longer deemed to be on... 2nd September 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB to remain in hawkish mode for now At August’s press conference, the ECB is likely to keep its options open over the likely near-term path of interest rates. But given the further decline in business and consumer sentiment and growing... 29th July 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Rates going up, but will ECB approve Greek deal? The ECB seems certain to deliver the pre-signalled interest rate hike to 1.5% at its July policy meeting. Accordingly, the key interest will be in what clues, if any, it gives on the likely path of... 1st July 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Green light for July hike ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet will use Thursday’s post rate-announcement press conference to signal another rise in interest rates at the following meeting in July. But with growing signs that the... 2nd June 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch "Strong vigilance" would signal June hike With recent communications from the ECB maintaining a distinctly hawkish tone, President Trichet could use Thursday’s post rate-announcement press conference to signal that the next hike in interest... 28th April 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Rate hike unlikely to be the first of many The recent batch of reasonably encouraging data, coupled with a raft of hawkish comments from various Governing Council members, suggests that the ECB will go ahead with its plan to raise interest... 31st March 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB's hawkish stance to harden The recent batch of reasonably upbeat economic data, coupled with further signs that price pressures may be building, will ensure that President Trichet continues to strike a hawkish tone at next week... 24th February 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB to maintain its hawkish stance At February’s press conference, President Trichet looks set to maintain a fairly hawkish tone, adding to fears that the ECB might raise interest rates later this year and possibly placing further... 27th January 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB to stand pat amidst conflicting forces Once again, the ECB faces the tough task of balancing a raft of bad news from the euro-zone’s periphery with the more positive developments elsewhere and the fact that CPI inflation has risen above... 6th January 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Phasing out support despite peripheral crisis The ECB faces the difficult task this month of weighing up the periphery’s disastrous situation on the one hand and pretty strong growth in the core euro-zone economies on the other. With the region’s... 25th November 2010 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB's tightening bias should not last long Recent comments from ECB members, together with a reduction in its bank lending and halt to bond purchases, suggest that the Bank has maintained a tightening bias. It will probably keep open the... 28th October 2010 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB in danger of slipping behind The euro-zone economy as a whole might be faring better than others for now, but strains in the region’s periphery have continued to mount. The ECB will provide reassurance after its forthcoming... 30th September 2010 · 1 min read
