">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
ECB, BoE hold record low rates, analysts eye bonds
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Search
Search:
ECB, BoE hold record low rates, analysts eye bonds
AFP - Friday, June 5
FRANKFURT (AFP) - - The European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of England held to record low key interest rates on Thursday, while markets looked for unconventional moves to pull the eurozone and British economies out of deep recessions.
ADVERTISEMENT
The ECB held its rate at 1.0 percent and the Bank of England at 0.50 percent.
Despite steep interest rate cuts in the past year, eurozone credit has become tighter because commercial banks have not passed on much of the unlimited cash now at their disposal at record low rates.
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet was to present details of an ECB plan to purchase 60 billion euros' (85 billion dollars') worth of low-risk bonds at a press conference following the decision.
That move was designed to boost a key credit market for companies that has remained clogged amid the global financial crisis and the eurozone's unprecedented recession.
Observers were also keen to hear how Trichet and the governing council will pay for the bond purchases, either by printing new money, or by "sterilising," or offsetting the operation through the sales of other assets or by issuing debt of its own, for example.
"The issue of sterilisation and any hints of the possibility that the programme may be extended in terms of quantity and types of assets are key," UniCredit analysts said.
Goldman Sachs analyst Erik Nielsen said that in addition to details of the bond programme, "we'll be listening for hints for further monetary easing - a rate cut in July!"
On Thursday, the ECB left two other reference rates, the marginal lending rate and the deposit rate, unchanged at 1.75 percent and 0.25 percent, respectively.
Latest ECB staff forecasts for growth and inflation were also due after the rate decision, with the 2009 growth estimate likely to be revised sharply lower following a disastrous first quarter.
The 16-nation economy contracted by a record 2.5 percent from output in the last three months of 2008 and by 4.8 percent from the first quarter of last year, official data showed on Wednesday.
That was the sharpest downturn since records began in 1995, the Eurostat statistics agency said, and meant the eurozone has now endured four straight quarters of economic recession.
Unemployment reached a 10-year high of 9.2 percent in April meanwhile after rising for the 13th month running.
Given such weakness, IHS Global Insight expected the ECB to keep its main rates on hold until well into 2010, chief European economist Howard Archer said, though he also thought a future rate cut was possible.
"It's also very possible that the ECB could ultimately extend and widen its asset purchasing scheme" if signs that the recession was easing prove premature and if deflation risks increased, Archer added.
The amount of ECB bond purchases is small compared with schemes established by the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England.
They are set to spend 300 billion dollars (210 billion euros) and 125 billion pounds (145 billion euros, 178 billion dollars), respectively, and also to buy government bonds, effectively underwriting government deficits.
That caused German Chancellor Angela Merkel to issue a rare critique Tuesday, as she called for a "return to a policy of having independent central banks."
Others charge that the ECB has been too timid in fighting the recession and have urged the central bank to pump more money into the economy.
ECB policymakers resist anything that might drive up inflation however, and even though consumer prices were essentially unchanged in May, have avoided moves that could not be reversed quickly once the economy begins to expand again.
"The ECB is unlikely to surprise with more than the pre-announced modest asset purchases this month," concluded economist Jennifer McKeown at Capital Economics.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Enlarge Photo
A city worker reads a newspaper opposite the Bank of England in London, 2008. The Bank of England has held its key interest rate at a historic low of 0.5 percent and said it would continue with a programme to boost lending in recession-hit Britain.
Most Popular – Top Stories
Viewed
Pandemic warnings as swine flu spreads to Africa
World 'getting closer' to swine flu pandemic: WHO
Last Titanic survivor dies in England
Prince Charles defuses Franco-British D-Day dispute
Talent judge defends singing sensation Boyle
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Friday, 5 June 2009 Taliban release all kidnapped students: officials
Britons jailed for life for French student murders
White House Web push for Obama speech
Militants blow up girls school in Pakistan: police
US actor Carradine dead, suicide suspected: Thai police
Indonesian woman faces jail over email complaint
President Obama meets Saudi king
Sberbank 'could sell Opel stake to Russian investor'
Stolen Renoir turns up near Venice, after 25 years
ECB, BoE hold record low rates, analysts eye bonds
First Afghan fibre optic cable connects to Tajikistan
Hezbollah camp seen gaining in Lebanon vote
Retailer Wal-Mart plans to add 22,000 US jobs
Bin Laden criticises Obama in new tape
NKorean navy boat crosses border with South: official
Thai 'Yellow Shirts' register new party: official
China's Hu, Obama discuss NKorea: state media
Palm Pre gets thumbs up in media reviews
| Technology
|
China's Hu, Obama discuss NKorea: state media
Canada will not regulate online broadcasters
| Technology
|
S.Korea's economy still gloomy: official data
China, Japan to launch talks on copyright piracy
Philippines plan to cut rice import
Poisoned liquor suspected in 25 Indonesian deaths
Collector: footbinding forerunner to fashion
Whitney Houston to release comeback album this fall
| Entertainment
|
Billy Elliot set to win big at Tony Awards
| Entertainment
|
Three US soldiers, poll candidate killed in Afghanistan
EU polls kick off with boost for Dutch right-winger
Obama seeks to change Muslim perceptions of U.S.
| International
|
Videogames delivering workouts along with fun
Carradine may have died from sex act: Thai police
Taliban release all kidnapped students: officials
UK PM Brown battles to hold on in face of revolt
| International
|
Brazil mistakes sea 'trash' for plane crash debris
White House launches online offensive for Obama speech
GM hopes to return to profit by 2011: court papers
Speed an issue in Air France crash, search goes on
| International
|
US says speeding up visas for researchers
Oldest serving cop in US dies at age 84
No sign of debris yet at jet crash site: Brazil
U.S. to impose financial sanctions on North Korea: report
| International
|
Israel gives mixed signals on Iran attack
Intel buying Wind River Systems for $884 mln
EU to send mission to Moscow and Kiev over gas dispute
Philippine army kills 13 rebels in heavy fighting
| International
|
Bomb in Baghdad cafe kills 7
All Israeli options against Iran on table
China security tight in Tiananmen
| International
|
China bus fire kills at least 24: Xinhua
| International
|
Drug gangs kill 11 in Mexico, mutilate bodies
| International
|
US, China need to lead on climate: US senator
Iran leader issues veiled criticism of moderates
| International
|
Climate talks move into next phase
Carradine may have died from sex act: Thai police
NKorea sees SKorean president in Roh's suicide
Suspense builds ahead of Apple extravaganza
| Technology
|
Obama vows 'new beginning' with Islam
Apple's Jobs ready to return from leave: report
| Technology
|
Koreans Pak, Lee share LPGA lead
US, Israeli defense ministers meet in Washington
China: At least 24 die in bus fire in southwest
US, China need to lead on climate: US senator
Nintendo rejected rivals' technology choice: report
| Technology
|
North Korea silent on fate of US journalists
Tech firms see 18 percent drop in storage revs: report
| Technology
|
Obama urges laggards get ready for digital TV
| Technology
|
Progress but still no deal on NKorea sanctions: UN
Videogame industry prays for resilient 2009
| Technology
|
US actor Carradine found hanged in Thai hotel
Aussie cricker Symonds ordered home, career in the balance
Canon revives new plant as camera sales hold firm
| Technology
|
Just a few on Twitter do all the tweeting: study
| Technology
|
Sony joins Universal, YouTube for music video site
| Technology
|
India new govt will focus on growth, help poor
Vietnam Airlines gets $120 mln loan for six aircraft
Pakistan's forex rise $330 mln to $11.52 bln
Pakistan stocks extend losses on economy, tax worries
Thai coroner seeks cause of Kung Fu actor's death
| Entertainment
|
Next season on the box? Anti-crisis 'Heal TV'
Edie Falco: from mobster wife to pill-popping nurse
| Entertainment
|
Europride gay festival expects 50,000 in Zurich
Chris Pine looks Unstoppable
| Entertainment
|
Soweto hopes to score on SAfrica's Confeds Cup
Heath Ledger documentary to air on Ovation TV
| Entertainment
|
Bollywood union boycotts Australia over attacks
Lost, Hangover try to catch Up at box office
| Entertainment
|
Defying recession, Japan's green cars surge in popularity
Reality gets Stranger with arranged-wedding show
| Entertainment
|
The Shield leads TV critics' nominations
| Entertainment
|
Calling Earth from the Air: world release of green movie 'Home'
Guns and drugs? Some rappers inflate hustler image
| Entertainment
|
Iconic Berlin Wall kiss to smack again: gallery
NY Philharmonic to play Platoon theme in Vietnam
| Entertainment
|
Australia PM outraged over sick kids TV stunt
"Carefree again", says Placebo's Brian Molko
Iraq, Afghanistan to resume ties soon: diplomats
Blind Japanese woman receives IBM's top award
British PM tries to save govt with cabinet reshuffle
Bomb kills 40 in Pakistan mosque as Holbrooke visits
| International
|
Rio Tinto calls off massive Chinalco tie-up
Iran to Obama: "sweet talk" not enough for Muslims
Obama speech aims to fix rift with Muslims
Myanmar court delays Suu Kyi trial, witness ruling
| International
|
Obama hopeful of Mideast peace progress this year
| International
|
Ukraine leader vows to block election changes
| International
|
Berlusconi says topless photos invasion of privacy
| International
|
Mogadishu exodus swells, Islamists battle for town
| International
|
Dalai Lama shrugs off concern over Dutch meeting
| International
|
Obama pledges Mideast peace drive
Obama speech widely hailed but foes still sceptical
U.S. says nuclear arms talks with Russia productive
Microsoft exec sees lower margins from cloud
| Technology
|
Sandra Bullock ... hates romantic comedies?
Philippine May inflation at 3.3pct, 18-month low
First Pacific denies Philippines asset swap bid
China, Japan should team up on product safety
Susan Boyle out of London clinic
Seoul shares end higher as techs, banks advance
Sky's the limit for Singapore gardens
China considering environmental tax: govt
Sandra Bullock ... hates romantic comedies?
NZ dollar steady, data eyed; debt weak
Susan Boyle leaves clinic, eyes U.S. success
| Entertainment
|
Growth figures confirm S.Korea avoided recession
World Bank: 900 mln dollar aid package to Pakistan
South Korea c.bank downplays recovery talk
Taiwan dollar ends at 1-week low on fund outflows
Bollywood producers, Indian multiplexes end standoff
| Entertainment
|
Researchers Say Playing Music In Stairwells May Help Fight Obesity
Kelly Osbourne's Hair Fell Out After Bleach-Job
Couple Conceived Baby At Green Day Show, Named Child Dookie
Saudi Prince Goes To Excess With $481 Million Private Jet
Prince William Is Dead Claims Google Database; The Prince Begs To Differ
Mysterious Lights Have Brits Eyeing Night Sky
Angelina Jolie Dethrones Oprah As Forbes Most Powerful Celeb
New York City Shelters Homeless At Vacant Luxury Condos
David Beckham Likes Eating Italian Delicacy "Little Bum"
Cameron Diaz Wishes She Had A Bigger Butt
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights