Inflation is now a major challenge - ECB announces rate hikes for July and September

In breve

End of QE by July and a 25 bps rate hike in July announced: As expected, the GC announced to terminate QE by July 1. Surprisingly it announced a 25 bps rate hike in July and another rate hike in September. Beyond September, the GC looks for “ a gradual but sustained path of further increases in interest rates”.

Highlights:

  • At today’s meeting the Governing Council (GC) decided to end QE by July 1. It is on course to raise the policy rate by 25 bps in July and by at least another 25 bps in September. But if the inflation outlook persists or deteriorates a larger rate increase will come in September, by likely 50 bps in our view. 
  • The decision was taken unanimously as the new projections foresee headline as well as underlying inflation above target throughout the end of ECB’s forecast horizon in 2024, while the economy should continue to grow.
  • Beyond September, a “gradual but sustained path of further increases in interest rates will be appropriate” according to the statement. However, the range of the neutral rate and hence the end-range for normalisation has not been discussed today.
  • Fragmentation risks took a backseat at today’s meeting. President Lagarde merely reiterated the flexibility of PEPP reinvestment and that the ECB would deploy a new tool if needed. 
  • Given upside risks to inflation, todays hawkish shift of the GC poses upside risks to our forecasts of a cumulated 100bps rate increase by year-end.
     

Download the full report

Market Commentary I Inflation is now a “major challenge” - ECB announces rate hikes for July and September
Picture

© Generali Investments, tutti i diritti riservati. Questo sito web è fornito da Generali Investments Holding S.p.A. in qualità di holding delle principali società di gestione del risparmio del Gruppo Generali che detengono, direttamente o indirettamente, la maggioranza delle partecipazioni nelle società sotto elencate (di seguito, congiuntamente, "Generali Investments"). Questo sito web può contenere informazioni relative all'attività delle seguenti società: Generali Asset Management S.p.A. Società di gestione del risparmio, Infranity, Sycomore Asset Management, Aperture Investors LLC (inclusa 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* e tra le sue controllate Global Evolution Asset Management A/S - incluse Global Evolution USA, LLC e Global Evolution Fund Management Singapore Pte. Ltd - Octagon Credit Investors, LLC, Pearlmark Real Estate, LLC e Generali Investments CEE. *Comprende Conning, Inc., Conning Asset Management Limited, Conning Asia Pacific Limited, Conning Investment Products, Inc. e Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. (collettivamente, "Conning").