Exclusive News


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: Lithuania Treasury Director: Addl '26 Syndicated Issuance Could Range from 3 to 10 or More Years

Exclusive: Lithuania Treasury Director: Addl '26 Syndicated Issuance Could Range from 3 to 10 or More Years

Rasa Kavolytė, Director of Lithuanian Treasury: Still have up to €2.5 billion to raise via syndications in 2026
Kavolytė: We prefer launching new benchmarks in syndicated transactions
Kavolytė: Investor demand strongest in the belly of the curve
Kavolytė: No green bond issuance planned in the near term
Kavolytė: No current plans to target institutional investors with defense bonds
Kavolytė: Lithuania not planning to extend defense bond program to longer maturities

6 May 2026
Exclusive: Cyprus DMO Official: Additional Issuance in 2026 “Possible,” Clarity Expected by Summer

Exclusive: Cyprus DMO Official: Additional Issuance in 2026 “Possible,” Clarity Expected by Summer

- Stelios Leonidou, senior official of Cypriot DMO: New benchmark could be either tap of current 10-year bond or longer-dated issue
- Leonidou: Expect roughly one issuance per year going forward
- Leonidou: There is room to prefund part of 2027 financing needs
- Leonidou: Foreign issuance plans remain on hold until global conditions stabilize
- Leonidou: Initial foreign currency issuance would likely be in USD
- Leonidou: No plans for liability management operations in 2026

5 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