ECB weighs options for ending QE programme with short taper in 2018

Frankfurt

EUROPEAN Central Bank (ECB) policymakers implicitly assume their newly extended bond-buying programme will be tapered to a halt by the end of next year so long as the inflation outlook improves, according to officials with knowledge of the discussions.

The Governing Council, which met on Thursday, focused on the first nine months of next year for its quantitative-easing programme and didn't formally debate options for what to do after that, said the people, asking not to be named because the talks are private. While tapering would be possible, extending the programme without changing the pace of purchases is also a credible option if inflation doesn't show…