European Central Bank
Dollar Down After Fed Expands Currency Swap Network.. Equities Up in Asia and Europe
March 20, 2020
The dollar fell overnight by 2.9% against the Australian dollar, 2.5% relative to the kiwi, 2.2% versus sterling, 2.0% vis-a-vis the loonie, 0.8% against the peso, 0.6% versus the yen and 0.4% relative to the euro and Swiss franc. The swap line arrangement that enables central banks to exchange on a temporary basis their own […] More
Takeaways from ECB Actions and Press Conference
March 12, 2020
The European Central Bank’s second scheduled Governing Council meeting of 2020 produced an interest rate surprise. Despite strongly expected cuts, the marginal lending facility rate of 0.25%, refinancing rate of zero percent, and overnight deposit facility rate of -0.50% were each left unchanged. The last deposit rate cut was made in September 2019, and the […] More
ECB President Lagarde’s Introductory Press Conference Statement
January 23, 2020
The ECB Governing Council’s first policy meeting of 2020 ended as expected with no change in its interest rate structure, including a negative 0.5% deposit rate since a 10-basis point cut last September. The Bank will continue quantitative stimulus of EUR 20 billion per month and, as previously announced by President Lagarde, is beginning a […] More
Coronavirus Spreading and Three Central Banks Review Monetary Policy
January 23, 2020
Share prices slumped another 2.8% in China, 1.5% in Hong Kong, 1.0% in Japan, 0.9% in South Korea, and 0.6% in Australia and Singapore as the deadly pneumonia-like disease centered in Asia claimed more victims. Share prices in Europe are so far today down 0.4% in Germany and 0.3% in the U.K. and Switzerland but […] More
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
