MNI: Italy Confindustria Expects ECB QE To Extend Beyond Sept

--Italy Business Lobby Sees No ECB Interest Hike Till Mid-2019

By Silvia Marchetti

     ROME (MNI) - Italy's leading business lobby Confindustria said Thursday it

expects the European Central Bank's monetary policy to remain accommodative well

past expectations.

     In its Flash outlook report, published ahead of the Mar 4 election, the

association says it does not expect any official interest rate hike since at

least way into half of 2019 and even potentially even beyond that time.

     It also expects the ECB to communicate over the summer that the asset

purchase program (APP) could be extended beyond its so far expected September

termination date.

     According to Confindustria, the APP could be prolonged for a several more

months past September.

     The lobby also sees a rosier outlook for Italy. It predicts a higher than

expected growth for the first quarter of this year, thanks to pro-investment

measures that are bearing fruit and to a significant pick-up in exports.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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