- February 2, 2023
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Economy
© AFP via Getty Images
Following the European Central Bank decision on interest rates at 1:15pm London time, Christine Lagarde will meet the press at 1:45pm. Central bank watchers will be on the lookout for clues as to the governing council’s thinking.
Another half point in March?
The ECB is expected to raise rates by half a point not only on Thursday but also in March. That would take the deposit rate to 3 per cent, its highest level since October 2008. In Davos, Lagarde signalled that the ECB would “stay the course” on raising rates — a hint that more than one half-point rise was planned. Analysts will be watching for any hints on when the ECB president expects rates to peak, which most analysts believe will be in the summer.
A more resilient economy
The latest data on the eurozone economy has been surprisingly upbeat, with output expanding by 0.1 per cent between the third and fourth quarters, according…