ECB

Oil surge clouds ECB’s July rate decision as yields hit highs

Euro zone bond yields climbed on Wednesday as a fresh spike in oil prices driven by renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran reignited inflation fears, putting the European Central Bank's upcoming July 23 meeting squarely in the spotlight.…

ECB selects 36 firms to join digital euro pilot

The European Central Bank on Monday announced it has selected 36 payment service providers to participate in a digital euro pilot, choosing from over 50 applications submitted by firms across the euro zone. The pilot will take place at the…

Traders boost BoE and ECB rate hike bets as oil nears $85

The collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire has sent oil prices surging to one-month highs, reigniting inflation concerns across Europe and prompting traders to increase bets on interest rate hikes by the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.

Euro sinks near multi-month lows as Fed hawks widen yield gap over ECB

The euro is treading water near $1.14 against the dollar, its weakest level since mid-March, as a hawkish Federal Reserve under new Chair Kevin Warsh continues to outpace the European Central Bank in tightening expectations, keeping the greenback's yield advantage…

Euro slides as French inflation data bolsters ECB pause case

The euro drifted lower on Friday as final French inflation data for June confirmed a sharp deceleration, reinforcing expectations that the European Central Bank will hold rates steady at its July 22 meeting. EUR/USD eased to around 1.143, according to…

ECB faces conflicting signals as inflation cools but Middle East conflict reignites risks

France's statistics office INSEE confirmed on Friday that consumer prices rose 2.0% year-on-year in June on an EU-harmonized basis, a sharp deceleration from 2.8% in May. The monthly harmonized reading fell 0.3%, driven by a decline in energy costs —…

Germany, France confirm sharp inflation drops in June

Germany's federal statistics office on Friday confirmed that consumer prices rose 2.3% year-on-year in June 2026, down from 2.6% in May, while the EU-harmonised rate came in at 2.4%. In France, INSEE confirmed annual inflation at 1.8% on a national…

Hormuz disruption reignites ECB rate hike debate ahead of July meeting

The European Central Bank's brief window of relief on inflation has slammed shut. Days after data showed eurozone price growth cooling faster than expected, a resumption of US-Iran hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz has sent energy markets into turmoil…

EU Parliament votes to advance digital euro project

The European Parliament on Thursday voted to approve the creation of a digital euro, clearing the path for trilogue negotiations between the Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission on a currency designed to reduce Europe's…

ECB minutes show inflation fears despite rate hikes

The European Central Bank on Thursday published the accounts of its June 10-11 monetary policy meeting, showing that policymakers raised interest rates unanimously while flagging persistent upside risks to inflation driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Euro zone bond yields dip after Iran-driven selloff

Euro zone government bond yields edged lower on Thursday as oil prices steadied, though borrowing costs remained near seven-week highs following a sharp selloff triggered by renewed U.S.-Iran tensions earlier in the week.

Eurozone bond yields surge after Trump declares Iran ceasefire ‘over’

Eurozone government bond yields surged on Wednesday to their highest levels in roughly a month after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the memorandum of understanding underpinning the ceasefire with Iran was "over," sending oil prices sharply higher and reigniting expectations…

ECB keeps options open as policymakers warn of fragile euro zone outlook

European Central Bank officials this week outlined a careful approach to further interest rate increases, stressing that the euro zone's economic recovery remains vulnerable even as inflation pressures persist from the Iran war-driven energy shock.

UniCredit secures 47.6% of Commerzbank after tender offer

UniCredit announced on Wednesday that it now holds 47.6% of Commerzbank after its voluntary public tender offer concluded, marking a milestone in the Italian bank's 21-month pursuit of its German rival.

ECB orders banks to submit AI cybersecurity plans by October

The European Central Bank on Tuesday directed eurozone banks to draw up plans within four months to defend against cyber threats enabled by advanced artificial intelligence models, warning that such risks could undermine confidence in the financial system and disrupt…

ECB’s Panetta warns central banks face growing political pressure

European Central Bank policymaker Fabio Panetta warned on Monday that central banks across Europe face growing political pressure from governments grappling with rising pension costs and industrial support needs, raising fresh concerns about the erosion of monetary policy independence.

ECB’s Schnabel warns Iran war shock still weighing on euro zone

The euro zone economy has not returned to its pre-war state despite a drop in oil prices, European Central Bank Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel warned on Monday, as core inflation remains elevated weeks after peace efforts in the Middle…

Iran war to keep global interest rates elevated through 2028, Bloomberg Economics warns

The war between the United States and Iran may have ended with a tentative deal last month, but the conflict's economic aftershocks will linger far longer than the fighting itself. Bloomberg Economics warned on Saturday that the trajectory of interest…

Euro snaps two-week slide as weak US jobs data weighs on dollar

The euro edged higher on Friday, extending gains for a second consecutive session and positioning itself to end a two-week losing streak against the dollar, after a sharply disappointing U.S. jobs report dampened expectations for near-term Federal Reserve tightening. However,…

ECB warns Hormuz disruptions could cut euro area output by 3%

The European Central Bank published new research on Wednesday warning that persistent disruptions to trade through the Strait of Hormuz could place up to 3% of euro area production at risk, with supply shortages extending well beyond the direct impact…

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…

Eurozone services contraction eases as inflation cools at record pace

The eurozone's private sector showed signs of stabilization in June after two months of declining output, as cost pressures eased at the sharpest rate on record outside of pandemic-era lockdowns, according to final survey data released on Friday by S&P…

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…

ECB rejects calls to lower bank capital requirements

The European Central Bank on Thursday rejected industry pressure to reduce bank capital requirements, maintaining that current levels are essential to ensure the stability of the eurozone's financial system. The stance comes as the ECB separately weighs a move to…

ECB warns Europe’s heatwave is fueling inflation

A record-breaking heatwave gripping Europe is no longer just a public health emergency — it is rapidly being reframed as a structural threat to the continent's already fragile economy, with central bankers, insurers, and economists warning of hundreds of billions…

ECB’s Stournaras calls July rate hike unlikely after inflation drop

European Central Bank Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras said Wednesday that the central bank likely does not need to raise interest rates at its next meeting in July, after euro-zone inflation fell more sharply than expected in June. Speaking at…

European shares slip as U.S.-Iran talks stall

European shares slipped on Wednesday, pausing after a strong second-quarter finish as investors grew cautious over signs that peace talks between the United States and Iran have hit a fresh impasse, while expectations of further interest rate increases from major…

ECB policymakers split on next rate hike as eurozone inflation eases

European Central Bank Governing Council member Ulo Kaasik said on Wednesday that at least one more interest rate increase remains a "reasonable expectation," even as fresh data showed eurozone inflation falling more sharply than anticipated in June, complicating the outlook…

German banks reject ECB plan to double reserve requirements

The European Central Bank is weighing a plan to double the share of cash that eurozone lenders must park in unremunerated accounts, a move that has drawn swift opposition from Germany's banking industry.

ECB’s Kocher rules out rate cuts as Sintra hawks soften

European Central Bank Governing Council member Martin Kocher said on Tuesday that the ECB's next policy decisions will come down to either raising interest rates further or keeping them steady, ruling out any return to easing as inflation pressures linger…