ECB to go into hibernation

En bref

ECB kept key rate unchanged today: Quite unspectacularly, at today’s meeting the GC left its key rate, the deposit rate, at 2.00% for the third consecutive time. The principal payments of APP and PEPP purchases are no longer reinvested. A better growth outlook….: Over the past months activity data surprised on the upside with GDP growth above September projections and sentiment indicators like the PMIs signalling a further strengthening. Inflation data came in above previous projection expectation too. The updated staff projections reflect this improved macro-outlook.

Highlights

  • At today’s meeting the ECB’s Governing Council (GC) unanimously and unsurprisingly decided to keep its key rate unchanged at 2.0%. 
  • The macro projections, extended to 2028 show a less pronounced inflation undershooting in 2026 (1.9% vs 1.7%), an unchanged 2027 number (1.9%) but convergence towards target by 2028 with core inflation being revised up by cumulatively 0.5 pp in 2026/27. A key reason was stronger wage dynamics.  
  • The growth projections were increased by cumulatively 0.5 pp for 2025-27and set at 1.4% in 2028 with domestic activity being the main engine of growth. 
  • While the policy implications of the macro-outlook clearly became more hawkish, President Lagarde reconfirmed that the ECB was “in a good place” and that neither cuts nor hikes were discussed at the meeting. Yet all options should be on the table. 
  • We feel confirmed in our view that the ECB maintains a wait-and-see stance and goes into hibernation at 2.0%.  

Download the document:

ECB to go into hibernation
Picture

© Generali Investments, tous droits réservés. Ce site web est géré par Generali Investments Holding S.p.A. en tant que société holding des sociétés de gestion d'actifs du Groupe Generali ayant, directement ou indirectement, une participation majoritaire dans les sociétés énumérées ci-dessous (ci-après dénommées conjointement "Generali Investments"). Ce site web peut contenir des informations relatives à l'activité des sociétés suivantes : Generali Asset Management S.p.A. Società di gestione del risparmio, Infranity, Sycomore Asset Management, Aperture Investors LLC (y compris Aperture Investors UK Ltd), Plenisfer Investments S.p.A. Società di gestione del risparmio, Lumyna Investments Limited, Sosteneo S. p.A. Società di gestione del risparmio, Generali Real Estate S.p.A. Società di gestione del risparmio, Conning* et ses filiales (Global Evolution Asset Management A/S - y compris Global Evolution USA, LLC et Global Evolution Fund Management Singapore Pte. Ltd - Octagon Credit Investors, LLC, Pearlmark Real Estate, LLC et MGG Investment Group) ainsi que Generali Investments CEE. *Englobe Conning, Inc, Conning Asset Management Limited, Conning Asia Pacific Limited, Conning Investment Products, Inc, Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc (désignés comme "Conning").