Central Bank Exclusives


Exclusive: ECB’s Šimkus Backs June Hike, Sees Second Rate Move as “More Likely Than Not”

Exclusive: ECB’s Šimkus Backs June Hike, Sees Second Rate Move as “More Likely Than Not”

By David Barwick – VILNIUS (Econostream) – A 25bp June interest rate hike by the European Central Bank would be prudent and a second tightening move thereafter is more likely than not, according to ECB Governing Council member Gediminas Šimkus, who said that policymakers should gather additional evidence after June rather than feel compelled to tighten again immediately.

29 May 2026
Exclusive: ECB’s Demarco: “June Is the More Natural Horizon for Judgment”

Exclusive: ECB’s Demarco: “June Is the More Natural Horizon for Judgment”

By David Barwick and Marta Vilar – WASHINGTON (Econostream) – June, rather than the April 30 policy meeting, would be the more appropriate point for the European Central Bank to judge whether the war-driven energy shock is feeding through into broader inflation, according to ECB Governing Council member Alexander Demarco.

17 April 2026