The member of the European Central Bank Board (ECB), Isabel Schnabel, said during the weekend that the Central Bank can take its time with interest rates, adding that inflation is now near the objective of the ECB.
Outstanding statements
We are no longer restrictive. I think we can now take the time to observe the situation first. Now we have maximum flexibility at this interest rate level.
The rates are now at a neutral level.
The European Central Bank can take its time with interest rates, with monetary policy now established at a neutral level that is no longer restrictive.
Now we have reached a neutral territory with our monetary policy and fees – this means that we are no longer restrictive, now we can take our time.
Inflation is now close to our goal.
We will also get there this year. In general, this is good news when it comes to inflation.
Market reaction
At the time of writing, the EUR/USD quotes 0.17% higher in the day at 1,1414.
BCE FAQS
The European Central Bank (ECB), based in Frankfurt (Germany), is the euro zone reserve bank. The ECB sets interest rates and manages the monetary policy of the region.
The main mandate of the ECB is to maintain prices stability, which means maintaining inflation around 2%. Its main tool to achieve this is to raise or lower interest rates. Relatively high interest rates often translate into a stronger euro, and vice versa.
The BCE Governing Council adopts monetary policy decisions in meetings that are held eight times a year. The decisions are adopted by the directors of the national banks of the euro zone and six permanent members, including the president of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.
In extreme situations, the European Central Bank can launch a political tool called Quantitative Easing (quantitative relaxation). The QE is the process by which the ECB prints euros and uses them to buy assets (normally state or business bonds) to banks and other financial institutions. The result is usually a weaker euro ..
The QE is a last resort when it is unlikely that a simple decrease in interest rates achieves the price stability objective. The ECB used it during the great financial crisis of 2009-11, in 2015 when inflation remained stubbornly low, as well as during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The quantitative hardening (QT) is the reverse of the QE. It is carried out after the QE, when economic recovery is underway and inflation begins to increase. While in the QE the European Central Bank (ECB) buys state and business bonds from financial institutions to provide them liquidity, in the QT the ECB stops buying more bonds and stops reinvesting the main one that overcomes the bonds it already has. It is usually positive (or bullish) for the euro.
Source: Fx Street
I am Joshua Winder, a senior-level journalist and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in covering news related to the stock market and economic trends. With more than 8 years of experience in this field, I have become an expert in financial reporting.
