ECB

ECB policymakers play down April rate hike chances

[WASHINGTON] European Central Bank policymakers played down the chance of a rate hike as soon as this month, arguing that more data will be needed and the precise timing of a move was of secondary imp...

ECB President Christine Lagarde speaking during an event in Washington, D.C., April 14, 2026.

Lagarde says Europe’s economy has slipped below ECB baseline

Headline inflation in Europe has already jumped past the 2 per cent target

The ECB argued its policymakers should take a view on the total level of capital demands facing EU banks, including those set by ECB supervisors and others that are the purview of national authorities.

ECB seeks bigger say on banks' capital requirements

The assessment should be carried out by ECB policymakers and top supervisors together

It comes amid uncertainty over whether a lasting settlement will be reached.

Traders still pricing two ECB rate hikes by year-end after Iran truce

Many questions remain over the sustainability of the ceasefire agreement

A key risk is that consumers and businesses may quickly adjust their own expectations, demanding higher prices and wages, and setting off an inflation spiral.

Inflation scars risk quickly lifting expectations; ECB must be ready to act: policymaker

Surging energy costs prompted by the Iran war have already pushed inflation well above the ECB’s 2% target

The Fed will struggle to deliver the rate cuts that the market was anticipating before the Iran war. Even if it does, the market may “revolt” against the cuts by pushing up bond yields.

Markets expect global monetary policy to converge amid the Iran war

Central banks are likely to turn cautious and even hawkish as risk of stagflation looms

The US consumer now pays about a third of the cost and over the longer term, this share could rise to over half as US firms exhaust their ability to absorb costs, the ECB said.

US consumers, importers take biggest hit from tariffs, ECB study finds

Study shows exporters to the US are absorbing only a small fraction of higher tariff-related costs

The ECB wants to ensure banks have a grasp of the risks they face.

ECB to start fresh checks on banks’ exposure to private credit

It plans to ask banks for details of their dealings with direct lenders