logo

ECB will keep doing all is needed to meet inflation goal, Nagel says

Zawya5 hours ago

The European Central Bank has shown to be very good at using a wide range of tools to achieve price stability and will keep doing all that is necessary to complete its nearly accomplished mission, one of its top policymakers said on Thursday.
Speaking at a student conference in Milan, European Central Bank Governing Council member Joachim Nagel, who heads the German central bank, said that bringing inflation to target was the best thing the ECB could do to promote economic growth.
Price stability provides a stable base for politicians to do what is necessary to drive economic growth, he said.
(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by Alvise Armellini)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

World Bank expects 4.9% growth for UAE economy in 2026, 2027
World Bank expects 4.9% growth for UAE economy in 2026, 2027

Zawya

timean hour ago

  • Zawya

World Bank expects 4.9% growth for UAE economy in 2026, 2027

The World Bank has projected that the UAE's economic growth will continue on an upward trajectory, reaching 4.6 percent in 2025 and stabilising at 4.9 percent during 2026 and 2027. The World Bank confirmed that the UAE's non-oil sectors continue to play a key role as a main driver of growth, with an expected growth rate of 4.9 percent in 2025. According to the latest edition of the Gulf Economic Update (GEU) issued by the World Bank, which is based on information available as of 1st June, economic growth in the GCC countries is expected to rise in the medium term, reaching 3.2 percent in 2025 and 4.5 percent in 2026. According to the World Bank, strong expansion in non-oil sectors is contributing to the growth achieved by Gulf economies. According to the latest edition of the GEU, the region witnessed notable economic growth of 1.7 percent in 2024, compared to 0.3 percent in 2023. The report noted that the non-oil sector continued to demonstrate its resilience, with a 3.7 percent increase. This growth was significantly driven by private consumption, investment, and structural reforms implemented in GCC countries. In Bahrain, growth is expected to stabilise at 3.5 percent in 2025, while economic growth in Kuwait is expected to recover significantly and reach 2.2 percent in 2025. Growth in the Sultanate of Oman is expected to gradually accelerate to 3 percent in 2025, compared to 1.7 percent in 2024, 3.7 percent in 2026, and 4 percent in 2027. The report expects economic growth in Qatar to remain stable at 2.4 percent in 2025, compared to 2.6 percent in 2024, before accelerating to an average of 6.5 percent in 2026–2027. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the World Bank report expects economic growth to continue recovering to 2.8 percent in 2025 and reach an average of 4.6 percent in 2026–2027. The World Bank report also highlighted the challenges associated with uncertainty surrounding global trade, noting that the risk of a global economic slowdown continues to negatively impact the region. It recommended accelerating reforms aimed at diversifying economic activity and enhancing regional trade to mitigate these risks in GCC countries. Safaa El Tayeb El-Kogali, Division Director for the GCC countries at the World Bank, said 'The resilience of GCC countries in navigating global uncertainties while advancing economic diversification underscores their strong commitment to long-term prosperity.' She added, ""Strategic fiscal policies, targeted investments, and a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation for youth are essential to sustaining growth and stability." The report titled "Smart Spending, Stronger Outcomes: Fiscal Policy for a Thriving GCC', discusses the effectiveness of fiscal policy in ensuring macroeconomic stabilization and encouraging growth. The topic is particularly relevant as oil price fluctuations strain budget balances in several countries across the region. The report finds that government spending in the GCC region has effectively stabilized economies, especially during recessionary episodes. The findings show that a 1-unit increase in fiscal spending can boost non-hydrocarbon output by 0.1-0.45 units in the region.

US wheat surges 4% on short-covering, lifting corn and soy
US wheat surges 4% on short-covering, lifting corn and soy

Zawya

time2 hours ago

  • Zawya

US wheat surges 4% on short-covering, lifting corn and soy

CHICAGO, June 18 (Reuters) - Benchmark Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures jumped more than 4% on Wednesday as weather worries in parts of the United States and Europe, coupled with signs of fresh global export business, prompted speculators to cover short positions, brokers said. Corn and soybean futures followed the higher trend ahead of a U.S. government and market holiday on Thursday. CBOT July wheat settled up 25-1/4 cents, or 4.6%, at $5.74-1/4 per bushel after reaching $5.75, the contract's highest price since March 24. CBOT July soybeans ended up 3/4 cent at $10.74-3/4 a bushel and July corn finished up 2 cents at $4.33-1/2 a bushel. Wheat posted the biggest advances. Commodity funds hold a hefty net short position in CBOT wheat futures, leaving the market vulnerable to short-covering rallies, analysts said. "Anybody that sold Chicago wheat in the last couple of months is under water. So short-covering is the big thing, and you've got a few smaller stories that are supporting and encouraging that," said Terry Linn, analyst with Linn & Associates in Chicago. He noted that Algeria booked more than half a million metric tons of wheat in a tender this week, according to European traders. In addition, the U.S. winter wheat harvest is off to a slow start due to wet conditions, while parts of Russia and the European Union have been dry. Soybean futures inched higher while soyoil futures ended nearly unchanged, consolidating after a spike last Friday tied to larger-than-expected proposed U.S. biofuel mandates. The implied increase in domestic demand for soyoil has muted some of the concern about a slowdown in U.S. soybean exports due to trade tensions with China, the world's biggest soybean customer. "Having this domestic demand mandated is a huge relief, and it changes the fundamental complexion of the (soybean) balance sheet," Linn said. Corn futures rose along with wheat, but the most-active July contract trailed the gains in deferred contracts, reflecting easing concerns about tight supplies of last year's U.S. corn harvest and rising competition for export business, which has been a mainstay for U.S. corn futures. "Even though corn demand has been good so far, you just haven't had any additional demand develop. And at the same time, Brazil brought home a massive crop. And that is going to be competing with us here for a while," Linn said. Traders await market direction from the USDA's weekly export sales report, which will be released on Friday, a day later than usual, due to the U.S. Juneteenth holiday on Thursday. (Reporting by Ella Cao and Lewis Jackson in Beijing and Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair, Rashmi Aich, David Goodman, Sandra Maler and Deepa Babington)

As war and tariffs fog the outlook, some central banks trim rates
As war and tariffs fog the outlook, some central banks trim rates

Zawya

time2 hours ago

  • Zawya

As war and tariffs fog the outlook, some central banks trim rates

The Swiss and Norwegian central banks became the latest European rate-setters to ease monetary policy on Thursday, citing a weaker inflation outlook that contrasted sharply with the Federal Reserve's warnings about higher U.S. prices. The Bank of England kept rates on hold as expected, while flagging that they would remain on a "gradual downward path" in a finely balanced statement that also acknowledged "heightened unpredictability" in the global environment. U.S. President Donald Trump's haphazard threats of heavy trade tariffs and an escalating Israel-Iran conflict have left top central banks trying to steer policy in conditions of near-unprecedented uncertainty for the global economy. Speaking after a two-day meeting where Fed policymakers kept rates on hold, the U.S. central bank's chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday laid out how import tariffs imposed on America's trading partners will drive up prices for U.S. consumers. Trump is due in coming days to say whether tariffs currently pegged at a 10% baseline will rise - in some cases to more than double that level - in a move seen weakening the global economy and so keeping a lid on inflation pressures in many countries. "Inflationary pressure has decreased compared to the previous quarter," the Swiss National Bank said as it cut rates by 25 basis points to zero and did not rule out returning to negative rates. In a move that took most analysts by surprise, even Norway's central bank - long the most hawkish of major central banks - also cut its policy rate by 25 basis points said there were more cuts to come due to a more benign outlook for prices. "Inflation has declined since the monetary policy meeting in March, and the inflation outlook for the coming year indicates lower inflation than previously expected," Governor Ida Wolden Bache said of inflation which slowed to 2.8% in May. That mirrored the view taken by Sweden's central bank, which cut its key interest rate to 2.00% from 2.25% on Wednesday and said that, with price pressures weak, it may ease further before the end of the year to boost sluggish growth. On June 6, the European Central Bank cut its main interest rate for the eighth time in the past year and signalled a pause in policy easing at least next month because inflation was now safely back at its 2% target after three years of overshooting. CAUTION, LITTLE CONVICTION Earlier this week the Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady and said it would move cautiously in removing remnants of its massive, decade-long stimulus. Governor Kazuo Ueda said the BOJ's near-term focus was on downside risks, notably the hit from U.S. tariffs. The latest set of central bank decisions, covering most of the Group of 10 major currencies and their economies, gives a snapshot of the impact policymakers expect significantly less free global trade to have. For the U.S. economy, the Fed sketched a modestly stagflationary picture, with growth in 2025 slowing to 1.4%, unemployment rising to 4.5%, and inflation ending the year at 3%, well above the current level. Fed policymakers signalled borrowing costs are still likely to fall in 2025, but chair Powell cautioned against putting too much weight on that view. "No one holds these ... rate paths with a great deal of conviction, and everyone would agree that they're all going to be data-dependent," he said. For other economies, the consensus for now is that the tariffs will inevitably hit their local industries and so weaken growth and jobs - but at least their consumers will be spared the inflationary hit coming for their U.S. counterparts. That all could change, depending on whether the escalation of conflict in the Middle East drives oil prices substantially higher than the gains seen so far and whether America's trading partners end up retaliating with tariffs of their own. That will become clearer from July 9, when Trump has said countries will face higher tariffs across the board unless they reach a deal with him. (Additional reporting by Howard Schneider in Washington; Leika Kihara in Tokyo; Simon Johnson in Stockholm; Writing by Mark John; Editing by Catherine Evans)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store