If the European Central Bank adjusts interest rates in the next six months, the move would likely be a cut, ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Thursday.
Speaking at the European University Institute in Italy, Villeroy said that barring a major external shock - including possible new military developments in the Middle East - any policy change by the ECB would likely aim to further accommodate growth.
The ECB this month signalled a pause in policy easing, even as projections show inflation dipping below its 2% target, reviving concerns about a return to ultra-low inflation.
Oil prices have surged 7% after Israeli strikes on Iran triggered missile retaliation. Villeroy, who is also governor of the Bank of France, said the ECB would watch closely for energy price spillovers into broader inflation trends.
He noted that the euro’s recent strength helps cushion the impact of rising oil prices: a 10% euro appreciation offsets the inflationary effect of a 10 euro oil price rise.
Market pricing now suggests a greater risk of euro zone inflation undershooting the ECB’s 2% target. ECB forecasts see inflation falling below 2% in Q2 this year and returning to target by 2027, aided by a new emissions trading system.
"In such a context, we need to remain alert and agile in all our next meetings," Villeroy added.
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The final season of the global hit "Squid Game" helped Netflix surpass Wall Street’s second-quarter earnings expectations, prompting the company to raise its full-year revenue forecast.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused European countries of taking grain originally meant for impoverished nations under the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative.
The UK and Germany have signed a landmark treaty that includes plans for a direct rail connection between London and Berlin, aimed at boosting travel and trade between the two countries.
A tenth resident has died following the deadly fire that tore through the Gabriel House assisted-living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, officials confirmed Thursday.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney is reportedly the top contender to become the next Bond girl, as director Denis Villeneuve and Amazon look to modernise the James Bond franchise.
The Indian rupee is expected to open stronger on Friday, supported by gains in other Asian currencies and a temporary pause in the U.S. dollar index’s upward trend.
Iran has developed an investment plan aimed at attracting funding to expand its caviar production to more than 140 metric tons in the near future, - stated Nasser Karami-Rad, a senior official of the Iran Fisheries Organization.
Kazakhstan is weighing cryptocurrency-related investments as part of its strategy to diversify national reserves and modernise financial management, according to the chairman of the National Bank.
Electric car sales in Germany surged to a new record in the first half of 2025, making up 17.7% of all new vehicle registrations, according to the German road traffic agency KBA. Despite a 4.7% drop in overall car sales, demand for EVs grew by 35% year-on-year.
U.S. consumer prices rose at their fastest pace in five months in June, signaling the early impact of tariffs on inflation. However, subdued demand and falling service prices may keep the Federal Reserve cautious about rate changes.
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