The European Central Bank’s interest-rate hike sparked a backlash from Italy and Portugal, while Spain’s deputy premier signaled her expectation that tightening is now over. As the close-run decision by President Christine Lagarde and colleagues in Frankfurt to raise borrowing costs by a quarter point rippled across the region, the political reaction echoed previous episodes earlier this year. “The ECB, which doesn’t care about the economic difficulties of families and businesses, is increasing the cost of money,” Italian Deputy Prime Minister and League Leader Matteo Salvini said on broadcaster Rete 4 on Thursday ... (full story)