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Exclusive: ECB’s Centeno: ‘We Are Probably Close to Neutral Levels … 75BP Is Not a Norm’

Exclusive: ECB’s Centeno: ‘We Are Probably Close to Neutral Levels … 75BP Is Not a Norm’

- Centeno: If Council ‘sees the need to take policy rates above neutral levels it will do so temporarily’
- Centeno: ‘Very important to underline that any rate hikes above neutral levels are supposed to be temporary’
- Centeno: Rates now closer to normal, but ‘this is no guarantee that further steps are dispensable’
- Centeno: ‘A decision completely aligned with market expectations is not guaranteed’
- Centeno: ‘Adding more predictability and the rationale to our decisions will be key’
- Centeno: ‘Financing conditions are no longer very accommodative’
- Centeno: ‘Our decisions cannot be compared, in size, with those of the Fed, as conditions differ substantially’
- Centeno: Key principles to reduce APP portfolio should exclude any resurgence of fragmentation

30 November 2022
ECB Insight: Lagarde Unmistakably Hawkish; ‘It Would Surprise Me’ if Inflation Already at Its Peak

ECB Insight: Lagarde Unmistakably Hawkish; ‘It Would Surprise Me’ if Inflation Already at Its Peak

By David Barwick – FRANKFURT (Econostream) – European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde on Monday showed herself from her hawkish side, making it considerably less clear whether the Governing Council would really temper its pace of rate hiking as soon as next month, but also raising the question of how bold forthcoming quantitative tightening decisions will turn out.

28 November 2022
Exclusive: ECB Insider: See No Realistic Scenario Where We Reduce Balance Sheet by Much Next Year

Exclusive: ECB Insider: See No Realistic Scenario Where We Reduce Balance Sheet by Much Next Year

- ECB insider on QT: ‘Even if there’s a discussion, we still have fears’
- ECB insider: ‘It can be very fragile on European bond markets’
- ECB insider: ‘We can’t just sell the bonds; it’s impossible’
- ECB insider: Could test APP roll-off at €20bn/month if markets, general economic situation permit
- ECB insider: ‘When you do QT, it is very different than when you do QE’; no symmetry
- ECB insider: Sizeable camp would like to be cautious, not commit ourselves to many things

25 November 2022
Exclusive: ECB Insider: ‘I’m Almost Sure’ That December Hike Will Be 50BP

Exclusive: ECB Insider: ‘I’m Almost Sure’ That December Hike Will Be 50BP

- ECB insider: Hawks can accept slower hiking if terminal rate unaffected and progress made on QT
- ECB insider: Many Governing Council members fear hiking substantially just before a recession
- ECB insider: October’s 75bp hike was already ‘not so easy’
- ECB insider: ECB President Lagarde likely ‘senses that there is no clear consensus for 75’
- ECB insider: See risk of much more political opposition to hiking as soon as some countries enter recession
- ECB insider: Hawks will feel they must ask for 75bp hike even if they expect outcome to be 50bp

24 November 2022
Exclusive: ECB’s Holzmann: If Things Stay Unchanged Between Now and Dec 15, I Would Go for 75BP

Exclusive: ECB’s Holzmann: If Things Stay Unchanged Between Now and Dec 15, I Would Go for 75BP

- Holzmann: ‘If things remain unchanged from now to the decision, then I would go for 75’ bp
- Holzmann: If there were a ‘major reduction’ in HICP this month, ‘I could go along with 50’ bp
- Holzmann: No ‘major recession’ seen for now
- Holzmann: On QT, see ‘‘strong consensus that we should start small to test the markets’
- Holzmann: QT should start with APP, only involve PEPP ‘much later’
- Holzmann: Roll-off of assets acquired under the APP can overlap with rate hikes
- Holzmann: ‘Still very much concerned that a de-anchoring of inflation expectations will take place’
- Holzmann: Recent German wage agreement ‘acceptable’, but may lead companies to increase prices

21 November 2022