ECB keeps policy unchanged, sees scope for rebound

Frankfurt

THE European Central Bank (ECB) left policy unchanged as widely expected on Thursday, keeping copious stimulus flowing even as it saw reasons to expect a firm rebound of the euro area economy this year.

The ECB is keeping borrowing costs pinned near record lows via massive bond purchases to see the 19-country currency bloc through a scarring recession that has kept schools, shops, restaurants and hotels closed for most of the last year.

But growth is expected to rebound quickly from mid-year as Covid-19 infections are brought under control, the pace of vaccination picks up and restrictions are removed, raising questions about just how much ECB help is still needed.

"There are clearly signs of improvement," central bank president Christine Lagarde told a news conference. "Progress with vaccination campaigns and an envisaged gradual relaxation of containment measures underpin expectations of a firm rebound in economic activity in the course of 2021."

She stressed that the overall situation was still "clouded with uncertainty", however, due to factors including the possible spread of new virus variants to risks to financing conditions and continued pressures on struggling sectors of the economy.

Germany's 10-year government bond yield - the benchmark for the euro area - rose 0.5 basis points to -0.25 per cent after the ECB's policy statement.

The central bank's decision to keep rates unchanged sets the stage for a battle at the June 10 meeting, when policymakers have to decide whether to slow bond buying, even if that means allowing borrowing costs to drift higher.

In March, policymakers agreed to step up purchases this quarter. They will revisit that decision in June, with some already calling for a reduction in the third quarter.

"The Governing Council expects purchases under the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) over the current quarter to continue to be conducted at a significantly higher pace than during the first months of the year," the ECB statement said, repeating guidance from March.

Ms Lagarde was asked repeatedly at the news conference to elaborate on the timetable and debate around any future tapering, but stressed any decision would be "data-dependent".

"On the occasion of this Governing Council, we did not discuss any phasing out of PEPP because it is premature," she said.

At the current pace, the ECB is likely to exhaust its purchase quota before the scheduled end to its PEPP next March. The June decision will thus give a crucial signal of whether the 1.85 trillion euro (S$2.96 trillion) PEPP can be wound down early next year.

Dutch policymaker Klaas Knot, one of the most conservative members of the Governing Council, has already said it may be possible to start winding down purchases from June. Other policymakers have pushed back on that, saying taper talk is premature given the deadly third wave of the pandemic. REUTERS