European Central Bank
European Central Bank Maintains Ultra Easy Stance
December 12, 2019
The European Central Bank retained its interest rates of zero percent on the repo, a -0.5% overnight deposit rate and a 0.25% marginal lending rate. This was the first scheduled policy review chaired by Christine Lagarde, and the released statement contained the following compelling forward guidance on interest rates and quantitative stimulus: The Governing Council […] More
Markets React to ECB Stimulus, U.S. CPI Data, and Continuing Hopes on Trade Talks
September 12, 2019
Policymakers at the European Central Bank as expected cut the deposit rate by 10 basis points to minus 0.50%, announced an open-ended asset purchase program to start in November at EUR 20 billion per month, said targeted LTRO operations will carry the average deposit rate, and introduced a a 2-tiered system of reserve remuneration in […] More
European Central Bank Moving Closer to Reducing Interest Rates and Taking Other Stimulative Actions
July 25, 2019
The European Central Bank Governing Council left policy settings unchanged but signaled likelihood of a multi-pronged stimulus after September’s fuller review. A zero percent refi rate has been flanked by a negative 0.40% deposit rate and a 0.25% marginal lending facility rate since cuts made in September 2016. The ECB leadership is in transition; IMF […] More
ECB and Turkish Monetary Officials Send Dovish Signals
July 25, 2019
The European Central Bank Governing Council left policy settings unchanged but signaled likelihood of a multi-pronged stimulus after September’s fuller review. A zero percent refi rate has been flanked by a negative 0.40% deposit rate and a 0.25% marginal lending facility rate since cuts made in September 2016. The ECB leadership is in transition; IMF […] More
ECB Governing Council Meeting: No Change in Stance Was Expected, and None Got Delivered
April 10, 2019
At the ECB Governing Council meeting, the structure of Euroland central bank interest rates since March 2016 (a zero percent refinancing rate flanked by an overnight deposit rate of -0.40% and a marginal lending facility rate of 0.25%), was again retained, and forward guidance reaffirmed that rates would stay at present levels or lower at […] More
ECB Policy Shift Drives Stocks and Sovereign Debt Yields Lower, Dollar and Yen Higher
March 7, 2019
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank revised projected growth and inflation significantly downward, postponed the first possible interest rate hike to beyond 2019, announced a third round of quarterly targeted longer-term TLTROs to help “preserve favorable bank lending conditions and the smooth transmission of monetary policy,” retained a negative risk balance in spite […] More
European Central Bank Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged and Stops New Asset Purchases
December 13, 2018
The ECB’s interest rate structure has been at a record low since March 2016, consisting of a zero refinancing rate flanked by an overnight deposit rate of negative 0.40% and a marginal lending facility rate of +0.25%. At its last policy review of 2018, the central bank’s Governing Council reaffirmed that these rates are likely […] More
European Central Bank Accentuates the Cup Being Half Full
October 25, 2018
Today’s ECB Governing Council meeting was not one associated with updated macroeconomic forecasts, but the President Draghi’s introductory statement and press conference expressed confidence in a coming convergence of currently muted inflation on the target of less than but close to 2%. The Council expects continuing positive broadly based economic growth despite some recent weakening […] More
Focus Turns to Central Banks
October 25, 2018
The dollar this Thursday is narrowly mixed with upticks of 0.2% against the yen and Swiss franc and of 0.1% versus the loonie but downticks of 0.3% vis-a-vis the Aussie dollar and peso, 0.1% relative to sterling, the euro, and kiwi. The yuan is steady. Japan’s Nikkei plunged 822 points or 3.7%. Share prices also […] More
ECB Policy Meeting Produces No Surprises or Significant Developments
September 13, 2018
The European Central Bank Governing Council left its policy settings unchanged. The three key interest rates — a zero percent refinancing rate flanked by a -0.40% deposit rate and a 0.25% marginal lending facility rate — will not be increased through the summer of 2019. Asset purchases will total EUR 30 billion this month and […] More
