MADRID | By Julia Pastor | Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and Mario Draghi ECB’s president were in the same Davos panel on Saturday. Both talked about signs of recovery across the world and the euro zone. However, as she said that deflation potential risks in the euro zone must not be ignored, he minimized danger and insisted once more that the bank is prepared to deploy a QE’s policy if deflation appeared.
MADRID | By Francisco López | In the midst of the markets’ euphoria thanks to the sharp fall in the risk premiums of peripheral countries, the big commander came and ordered to stop. The president of the ECB, Mario Draghi, appealed to investors to be cautious facing the risks of a “fragile and weak” recovery in the Eurozone and about an inflation whose expectations on the medium-term have worsened.
LONDON | By Barclays analysts | The ECB left monetary policy unchanged as expected and strengthened the downside bias of its forward guidance somewhat. Mario Draghi insisted on the fragility of the economic recovery and repeated that the ECB would be ready to act should downside risks materialize. We still think that monetary policy should be kept unchanged at least for the next two years, but we acknowledge the risk of further easing should inflation and inflation projections fall further. Besides, liquidity measures could be introduced to support the financing of the economy.
MADRID | By JP Marin Arrese | Draghi is becoming a popular target for the German press. He presented himself as a tough defender of the established order in monetary policy when canvassing for the top job in the European central bank. But as soon as he secured his coveted goal, he shifted away from orthodoxy.
MADRID | By Miguel Navascués | There is a harsh disagreement in the euro zone: when Mario Draghi tries to do something, he finds the opposition of Germany and its allies. It seems obvious that Europe won’t get out of the hole with such travel companions.
MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | In a surprising move, the European Central Bank cut interest rates on Thursday. This is just a sign of the multiple fears shared by the institution and Mr Draghi: the ghost of deflation, the need for credit or the European prices and asset inflation. But both Mr Draghi and the ECB’s credibility have been boosted lately. What are they scared of then?
[Video by FT: “Is Europe getting deflated?”]
MADRID | By JP Marin Arrese | Draghi’s acid comment that a number of banks had to fail the forthcoming ECB asset quality and stress tests to ensure their credibility, sounded like a warning on his resoluteness to undertake an unsparing check before taking over full supervisory powers. His scaremongering statement has being judged as wholly inappropriate for a central banker. A position he is well acquainted with.
MADRID | By Luis Arroyo | Mario Draghi dared to warn European authorities of the danger of a “capital flight” if they insist on taking confiscatory measures against all kinds of rescued banks’ creditors. If it comes to that, they may cause a crisis in the entire European banking sector.
The Corner Team | ECB’s President Mario Draghi opened the door to providing more money to eurozone banks in order to keep market interest rates low and ensure the recovery, which finally seems to be picking up. His comments have been like fresh air to Europe’s banks, which face another stress test in the coming months.
MADRID | By Francisco López | The euro zone’s growth has been better than expected and the last data had unleashed speculation before a possible change of message of the ECB’s President. Far from reality. To the disappointment of the Bank’s Board hawks, with Germany at the forefront, Mr. Draghi has guaranteed that the price of money will follow “at the current level (0.50%) or even lower for an extended period of time”.