European Central Bank holds interest rates, says cut ‘appropriate’ if inflation falls further

The European Central Bank on Thursday held interest rates steady for a fifth straight meeting, as anticipation builds for rate cuts in June.

“If the Governing Council’s updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission were to further increase its confidence that inflation is converging to the target in a sustained manner, it would be appropriate to reduce the current level of monetary policy restriction,” it said in a statement.

The central bank for the 20 countries that share the euro currency hiked its key rate to a record 4% in September. It has left this rate unchanged at every gathering since.

Policymakers and economists have zeroed in on June as the month when rates could start to be reduced, after the ECB trimmed its medium-term inflation forecast. Price rises in the euro zone have since cooled more than expected in March.

The ECB on Thursday said incoming information had “broadly confirmed” its medium-term outlook, with falling inflation led by lower food and goods.

June will also be the first month when policymakers will have a full set of data on first quarter wage negotiations — an area of concern for potential inflationary effects.

Market pricing suggests a 25-basis-point cut in June, according to LSEG data.

In the U.S., expectations for a summer rate cut have been significantly curtailed by inflation data this week coming in higher than forecast.

In comments reported by Reuters, Sweden’s central bank Deputy Governor Per Jansson on Thursday said that if the U.S. Federal Reserve rules out rate cuts in 2024, it could present a “problem” for both the Riksbank and the ECB.

In the case of the Riksbank, this would be due to the weakening of the Swedish krona fueling inflation, Jansson said in a speech.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.