The Governing Council continues to judge that favourable financing conditions can be maintained with a moderately lower pace of net asset purchases under the pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP) than in the second and third quarters of this year. The Governing Council also confirmed its other measures, namely the level of the key ECB interest rates, its forward guidance on their likely future evolution, its purchases under the asset purchase programme (APP), its reinvestment policies and its longer-term refinancing operations. Specifically: The interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest ... (full story)

The European Central Bank decided Thursday to keep interest rates and its monetary policy stance unchanged despite ongoing inflationary pressures. The central bank had announced in September it would be buying less bonds off the back of surging consumer prices. Inflation in the euro zone hit 3.4% in September, representing a 13-year high. At the time, ECB President Christine Lagarde made it clear this was a recalibration, but not tapering. This is because the ECB is of the view that higher inflation is temporary and will fade throughout 2022. However, not everyone agrees with the central bank. Speaking to CNBC on ... (full story)