Christine Lagarde avoided giving an indication of whether the European Central Bank will raise or hold interest rates next week as she delivered a speech in London. The president of the Frankfurt-based institution kept up suspense around one of the most uncertain decisions in its yearlong battle against inflation, focusing instead on challenges in communicating at an uncertain time. “Actions speak louder than words,” Lagarde said Monday at a seminar in London organized by the European Economics & Financial Centre. “We have increased our policy rates by a cumulative total of 425 basis points in the space of 12 ... (full story)