MNI BRIEF: "Every Reason" To Believe ECB Hiking 50Bp In March
ECB President Christine Lagarde says policymakers set to hike 50bps in March, then data to drive decisions to hit 2% target
There is "every reason" to believe the European Central Bank will hike its key interest rates by another 50 basis points in March, President Christine Lagarde told Indian newspaper The Economic Times in an interview published on Monday. However, after that, policymakers "will see", with further decisions data dependent.
"We will do more hikes if necessary to return inflation to our target of 2% in a timely manner. It will take what it will take," Lagarde added. (MNI SOURCES: 100bp Gap Between Hawk-Dove ECB Peak Rates)
Lagarde, who has been in India for the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers, said the objective was to return inflation to 2%. "And we want to not only return it to 2%, but to keep it there sustainably," she added.