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The ECB cut rates for the first time after a record string of hikes in June and markets expect a second move on 12 September

ECB has room for gradual rate cuts, Kazaks says

The European Central Bank has room to cut interest rates possibly two more times this year as inflation remains broadly on the declining path policymakers envisaged, ECB policymaker Martins Kazaks said.

Business • 23 Aug 24

ECB may need to cut rates again in September, Rehn says

The European Central Bank may need to cut interest rates again in September given persistent economic weakness, Finnish central bank chief Olli Rehn has said.

Business • 20 Aug 24

Euro zone inflation accelerated to 2.6% in July from 2.5% in June, according to Eurostat's flash estimate

Euro zone inflation unexpectedly edges up in July

The euro zone's annual inflation rate unexpectedly edged up in July due to rising energy costs, official data showed today.

Business • 31 Jul 24

Growth in euro zone business activity stalled in July, the latest PMI shows

Euro zone business growth stalls in July, PMIs show

Growth in euro zone business activity stalled this month as a tepid expansion in the bloc's dominant services industry failed to offset a deeper downturn among manufacturers, a survey showed today.

Business • 24 Jul 24

New data to help reassess monetary policy stance - ECB

New data and macroeconomic projections will help the European Central Bank to better reassess its monetary policy stance in September, said ECB vice president Luis de Guindos in an interview with Europa Press.

Business • 23 Jul 24

Germany's Deutsche Bank is due to issue its quarterly results on Wednesday

European banks' earnings in focus this week

Some of Europe's biggest banks report their second-quarter earnings this week, with all eyes on whether the gains from higher interest rates have run out of steam and if recent political drama is weighing on sentiment.

Business • 22 Jul 24

The ECB kept interest rates unchanged yesterday, as expected, but said September's meeting was 'wide open'

Villeroy says expectations for future ECB cuts reasonable

Market expectations for the path of future interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank are "rather reasonable," ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said in an interview on French radio BFM Business today.

Business • 19 Jul 24

The ECB said today it will continue to follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach to determining the appropriate level of interest rates

ECB rates unchanged, but offers no guidance on next move

The European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged as expected today, with its president Christine Lagarde saying a move in September was "wide open".

Business • 18 Jul 24

A net 16% of lenders polled in the ECB's Bank Lending Survey (BLS) reported a surge in demand for loans from households in the three months to June

Euro zone households seek loans again after two years

Euro zone households are applying for loans in growing numbers for the first time in two years as they grow more optimistic about the economy and interest rates fall, a European Central Bank survey showed today.

Business • 16 Jul 24

ECB governors lowered the closely-watched deposit rate from a record 4% to 3.75% at their June meeting

ECB to opt for summer pause after initial rate cut

The European Central Bank is expected to leave interest rates unchanged on Thursday, giving the euro zone time to digest last month's first cut since 2019 as the inflation path remains unpredictable.

Business • 15 Jul 24

The European Central Bank cut rates for the first time in June from their record highs but has made no explicit commitment about a follow up move

ECB can continue to gradually lower rates, Panetta says

The European Central Bank can continue to gradually reduce interest rates without jeopardising the current fall in inflation, governing council member Fabio Panetta said today.

Business • 09 Jul 24

ECB policymakers have made clear in recent weeks that no change is coming at the ECB's July 18 meeting given stubbornly high services costs, but September still remains a possibility

ECB accounts show worries about stalling disinflation

Some European Central Bank policymakers felt uneasy about recent inflation developments when they cut interest rates last month and feared that any further delay in reaching the target would be costly, the accounts of their June 5-6 meeting showed today.

Business • 04 Jul 24

Simon Harris said he now wants monthly repayments to fall just as quickly as they rose (File image)

Harris meets banks over mortgage interest rates

The Taoiseach has told the banks he wants people to feel the benefits of reduced monthly mortgage repayments as quickly as possible as interest rates begin to fall.

Politics • 03 Jul 24

The ECB lowered rates in June and signalled more easing in the coming months

ECB must not rush into next rate cut, Vasle says

A host of risks could still derail euro zone disinflation, so the European Central Bank should not rush into its next interest rate cut, Slovenia's central bank governor Bostjan Vasle said today.

Business • 03 Jul 24

Makhlouf sees one more interest rate cut this year

Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf has said he was comfortable with just one more interest rate cut from the European Central Bank this year as he needed more time to gain confidence inflation was headed to the ECB's 2% goal.

Business • 03 Jul 24

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde

ECB not in a hurry to cut rates further, Lagarde says

The European Central Bank needs more time to conclude that inflation is firmly on a path to 2% and benign economic developments indicate that rate cuts are not urgent, ECB President Christine Lagarde has said.

Business • 02 Jul 24

The ECB said that national authorities should keep buffers designed to help banks absorb losses, noting property remained overvalued and debt high in some countries

ECB wants countries to up, not cut bank capital buffers

Euro zone countries should not cut bank capital buffers and some should even increase them given record profits in the sector and clouds on the horizon, the European Central Bank said today.

Business • 28 Jun 24

Euro zone consumers continued to cut their inflation expectations, a new European Central Bank survey shows

Consumers becoming more optimistic on inflation - ECB

Euro zone consumers continued to cut their inflation expectations and also grew more optimistic on employment prospects even as they still saw economic contraction ahead, a new European Central Bank survey showed today.

Business • 28 Jun 24

New entrants to the market may help to making long-term savings accounts more attractive to Irish consumers

Irish household deposits rose by €1.1 billion in May

Irish household savings rose by €1.1 billion in May when compared to April, according to data published by the European Central Bank.

Business • 28 Jun 24

The ECB cut rates in June for the first time in the current cycle but has made no explicit commitment about its next move

ECB sees gradual easing if inflation falls as expected

The European Central Bank could gradually reduce interest rates if inflation falls as expected, two ECB policymakers said today.

Business • 26 Jun 24

HCOB's preliminary composite Purchasing Managers' Index for the euro zone, compiled by S&P Global, sank to 50.8 this month from May's 52.2

Euro zone business recovery slows sharply in June - PMI

Euro zone business growth slowed sharply this month as demand fell for the first time since February, a survey found, with the bloc's services industry showing some signs of weakening while the downturn in manufacturing took a turn for the worse.

Business • 21 Jun 24

The ECB will cut its deposit rate twice more this year, according to a significant majority of economists polled by Reuters

ECB set to cut rates in September and December - poll

The European Central Bank will cut its deposit rate twice more this year, in September and December, according to a significant majority of economists polled by Reuters who said the risks were skewed towards fewer rate cuts than expected.

Business • 18 Jun 24

The ECB's chief economist Philip Lane was speaking at a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker interview in London today

ECB's Lane confident inflation will hit 2% in 2025

The European Central Bank's chief economist said today he remained confident inflation will fall back to the ECB's 2% target in 2025 after four years of unusually brisk price growth following the Covid pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Business • 17 Jun 24

French bonds and stocks have underperformed other European markets this week

France should clarify budget strategy - ECB's Villeroy

Bank of France head and European Central Bank (ECB) member Francois Villeroy de Galhau has said that while he could not comment specifically on France's domestic political situation, the country needed to clarify its budget strategy.

Business • 12 Jun 24

The ECB cut rates from a record high on Thursday but made no commitment about any future move

ECB can sit out the summer before next rate cut - Kazimir

The European Central Bank should sit out the summer before contemplating another interest rate cut as inflation is far from defeated and price pressures could resurface, ECB policymaker Peter Kazimir said today in a blog post.

Business • 10 Jun 24

European Central Bank

ECB has room for gradual rate cuts, Kazaks says

ECB may need to cut rates again in September, Rehn says

Euro zone inflation unexpectedly edges up in July

Euro zone business growth stalls in July, PMIs show

New data to help reassess monetary policy stance - ECB

European banks' earnings in focus this week

Villeroy says expectations for future ECB cuts reasonable

ECB rates unchanged, but offers no guidance on next move

Euro zone households seek loans again after two years

ECB to opt for summer pause after initial rate cut

ECB can continue to gradually lower rates, Panetta says

ECB accounts show worries about stalling disinflation

Harris meets banks over mortgage interest rates

ECB must not rush into next rate cut, Vasle says

Makhlouf sees one more interest rate cut this year

ECB not in a hurry to cut rates further, Lagarde says

ECB wants countries to up, not cut bank capital buffers

Consumers becoming more optimistic on inflation - ECB

Irish household deposits rose by €1.1 billion in May

ECB sees gradual easing if inflation falls as expected

Euro zone business recovery slows sharply in June - PMI

ECB set to cut rates in September and December - poll

ECB's Lane confident inflation will hit 2% in 2025

France should clarify budget strategy - ECB's Villeroy

ECB can sit out the summer before next rate cut - Kazimir

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