Monetary policy decisions, December 2016

Author (Corporate)
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Series Details 08.12.16
Publication Date 08/12/2016
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The Governing Council of the European Central Bank announced on 8 December 2016 it had decided to keep unchanged the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility. The Council continued to expect the key ECB interest rates to remain at present or lower levels for an extended period of time, and well past the horizon of the net asset purchases.

Regarding non-standard monetary policy measures, the Governing Council decided to continue its purchases under the asset purchase programme (APP) at the monthly pace of €80 billion until the end of March 2017. From April 2017, the net asset purchases were intended to continue at a monthly pace of €60 billion until the end of December 2017, or beyond, if necessary, and in any case until the Council sees a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation consistent with its inflation aim.

If, in the meantime, the outlook became less favourable or if financial conditions become inconsistent with further progress towards a sustained adjustment of the path of inflation, the Governing Council showed its intention to increase the programme in terms of size and/or duration.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2016/html/pr161208.en.html
Related Links
EUObserver, 08.12.16: ECB reshapes its bond-buying scheme https://euobserver.com/economic/136206
ECB: Introductory statement to the press conference (with Q&A) https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pressconf/2016/html/is161208.en.html
The Guardian, 08.12.16: ECB surprises markets by scaling back QE programme https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/08/ecb-surprises-markets-by-scaling-back-qe
BBC News, 08.12.16: ECB extends bond-buying scheme but at slower pace http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38252116
The Wall Street Journal, 08.12.16: ECB Extends but Scales Back Stimulus, Whipsawing Markets http://www.wsj.com/articles/ecb-to-extends-stimulus-program-by-nine-months-at-reduced-rate-1481201978
The Economist, 10.12.16: The European Central Bank’s quantitative-easing options http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21711322-ecbs-willingness-do-whatever-it-takes-helps-explain-markets-uneasy
Politico, 08.12.16: 3 takeaways from the ECB surprise http://www.politico.eu/article/mario-draghi-europes-best-politician-three-takeaways-from-a-pivotal-ecb-meeting/
The New York Times, 07.12.16: E.C.B. Extends Bond-Buying Program to Protect Eurozone Economy http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/business/international/ecb-europe-interest-rates-bonds-italy.html
Euronews, 08.12.16: ECB shrugs off doubts over euro zone outlook http://www.euronews.com/2016/12/08/ecb-shrugs-off
Euro|Topics: Debates, December 2016: For how much longer will ECB provide cheap money? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/170964/for-how-much-longer-will-ecb-provide-cheap-money
ESO: Background information: ECB’S Unconventional Monetary Policy. Tapering or Extension? Options on the table http://www.europeansources.info/record/ecbs-unconventional-monetary-policy-tapering-or-extension-options-on-the-table/
ECB: Explainers: How quantitative easing works https://www.ecb.europa.eu/explainers/show-me/html/app_infographic.en.html

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