Christine Lagarde

Lagarde warns Europe against relying on foreign AI

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday that Europe leaves itself exposed if it relies on artificial intelligence models built elsewhere. She also warned that the fast spread of AI through financial markets creates risks for the financial…

Lagarde says she’ll leave ECB in 2027 but won’t commit to full term

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde on Friday left the door open to departing her post before her eight-year term expires in October 2027, fueling a succession debate that has drawn in Europe's largest economies.

ECB’s Lagarde personally blocked Binance’s EU expansion, WSJ reports

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde personally intervened with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to prevent Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, from obtaining a license that would have opened the entire European Union market to the company, The Wall…

ECB staff demand Lagarde clarify her future amid exit speculation

The European Central Bank's staff committee has written to the institution's Executive Board demanding that President Christine Lagarde clarify whether she intends to leave before her term expires in October 2027, warning that prolonged uncertainty risks undermining trust in the…

EU capitals race to agree on ECB leadership package by year’s end

Eurozone governments are engaged in intensifying behind-the-scenes negotiations over a sweeping leadership overhaul at the European Central Bank, with a "grand package" covering three of the institution's most senior roles expected to be agreed by year's end, according to the…

Lagarde warns inflation shock will last longer than expected

The European Central Bank raised its key interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, September 10, bringing the deposit facility rate to 2.50% as ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive energy prices higher and reignite inflation…

Lagarde calls on governments to cut spending to fund AI and defense

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde urged eurozone governments on Friday to rein in certain areas of public spending to free up resources for what she called "necessary investments" in artificial intelligence, defense, and the energy transition — a call…

ECB raises rates as European gas hits highest since 2022

European natural gas prices surged to their highest level since late 2022 on Thursday, as escalating Middle East hostilities and low storage levels ahead of winter intensified fears of a prolonged energy crisis across the continent.

ECB’s Lagarde calls French debt-cancellation plan ‘financially dangerous’

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde on Thursday dismissed French far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon's proposal to cancel 18% of France's national debt, calling the idea "financially dangerous" and legally impossible under EU treaties.

Lagarde warns China competes in 40% of eurozone’s key sectors

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned on Wednesday that China now directly competes with the eurozone in close to 40% of the sectors where Europe holds a comparative advantage, up from around 25% in the early 2000s, as she…

Lagarde says Europe can’t afford to miss AI revolution

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned on Wednesday that Europe cannot afford to repeat its failure to capitalize on the first digital revolution, urging the continent to remove barriers that prevent artificial intelligence from spreading across its economy.

Lagarde says ECB will discuss raising bank reserve requirements

The European Central Bank confirmed on Thursday that it will discuss raising banks' minimum reserve requirements, as policymakers weigh options to reduce the Eurosystem's financial losses with a decision expected in autumn.

Spain backs De Cos to succeed Lagarde as ECB president

Spain has thrown its hat into the ring for the European Central Bank's top job, backing Pablo Hernández de Cos as its candidate to succeed Christine Lagarde in what would be Madrid's first-ever bid to lead the eurozone's central bank.

Lagarde defends ECB rate hike, hints at French political ambitions

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has strongly defended the central bank's decision to raise interest rates in June, telling French newspaper Les Echos that "we are confident that we made the right choice," even as a ceasefire between Iran…

Lagarde says ECB was ready to raise rates as early as April

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde doubled down on the bank's June interest rate increase, telling French newspaper Les Echos on Thursday that "we are convinced we made the right decision," even as new data shows eurozone inflation cooling faster…

Lagarde declares end of ECB forward guidance era at Sintra forum

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde used the opening of the ECB's annual forum in Sintra, Portugal on Monday to defend the bank's June 11 rate increase and lay out a stripped-down approach to monetary policy that replaces forward guidance…

Lagarde says ECB’s June rate hike was data-driven, not precautionary

ECB President Christine Lagarde on Monday pushed back against characterizations of the bank's June rate increase as a pre-emptive move, arguing that the euro zone's improved economic resilience and the ECB's upgraded analytical tools gave policymakers confidence to act on…

Lagarde says eurozone resilience gives ECB room on rates

ECB President Christine Lagarde used the opening of the central bank's annual forum in Sintra, Portugal, on Monday to argue that the eurozone's growing economic resilience gives policymakers greater flexibility to adjust interest rates without triggering financial stress, according to…

ECB’s Lagarde calls for talks on yuan undervaluation

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will host Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels on June 29-30 for what officials have described as "crunch talks" on the bloc's widening trade deficit with China, as pressure mounts from EU leaders and…