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Three weeks into ECB quantitative easing, markets begin taper talk
Just three weeks into the European Central Bank's 19-month bond-buying programme, analysts are already speculating that it may throttle back the pace of purchases early, possibly even this year. An upturn in growth or inflation, a dramatic rise in asset prices and a scarcity of bonds have all been cited as factors that could prompt the ECB to "taper" its purchases. "We expect the ECB will decide to cut back its bond purchases as early as the second half of this year," said DZ Bank analyst Hendrik Lodde, adding the economy could improve towards year-end. When ECB President Mario Draghi unveiled the 1 trillion ... (full story)