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Added on the 12/02/2015 17:38:32 - Copyright : Reuters EN
Soaring inflation in the eurozone meant the European Central Bank would soon have to bring an end to its long-standing policy of negative interest rates, the head of the German central bank says. SOUNDBITE of Bundesbank chief Joachim Nagel
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde says the institution will freeze borrowing costs again on Thursday but warns that inflation could pick up again in the near term, in an apparent pushback against market hopes of early rate cuts in 2024. It is the second time in a row the central bank has held rates, following a run of historic hikes to tame runaway price rises. SOUNDBITE
The US Federal Reserve has voted to hold interest rates at a 22-year high for a second straight meeting. "Today we decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged," announces Fed chair Jerome Powell. SOUNDBITE
US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announces that the US Federal Reserve has voted to keep interest rates at a 22-year high, between 5.25 percent and 5.50 percent. SOUNDBITE
The US Federal Reserve is prepared to raise interest rates higher -- and hold them there -- in order to bring down elevated inflation. "We are prepared to raise rates further if appropriate, and intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we are confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward our objective," says Jerome Powell in a central banking conference in Wyoming. SOUNDBITE