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European Central Bank (ECB)

The European Central Bank monitors the monetary policy of the eurozone, with the main objective being to maintain price stability.

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All Content on this topic

European Central Bank

European Central Bank adds €600 billion to stimulus scheme

The European Central Bank will ramp up its emergency pandemic emergency simulus program by €600 billion.
BusinessJune 4, 2020
The European Central Bank building in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

ECB: Coronavirus downturn could put strain on eurozone

The twin threats of rising debt and falling GDP loom in 2020 as governments seek to contain the coronavirus.
BusinessMay 27, 2020
New ECB President Christine Lagarde

ECB's Lagarde: Time to step up investment

The European Central Bank president urged European countries to invest and innovate amid concerns of economic slowdown.
BusinessNovember 22, 2019
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How the ECB works

The ECB manages monetary policy for the European Union's 19 member states.
BusinessNovember 1, 201901:20 min
Christine Lagarde and Mario Draghi during the symbolic handover of the ECB presidency at the European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany

Lagarde will need all her skills as ECB chief

The new central bank chief inherits an almost empty toolbox to fight low inflation and weak growth in the eurozone.
BusinessNovember 1, 2019
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Draghi's last stand: 'Never give up!'

Mario Draghi exits the ECB after 8 years - the IMF's Christine Lagarde takes over next week
BusinessOctober 25, 201902:02 min
Libra currency coins

European leaders look to block Facebook currency

Libra has sparked serious concerns from central bankers and financial regulators from around the world.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2019
European Central Bank building in Frankfurt

European banking union ruled constitutional

The European Central Bank's supervision of large banks is meant to protect the eurozone from future financial crises.
BusinessJuly 30, 2019
Manfred Weber and Jean-Claude Juncker, the man he hopes to succeed, in 2014

EU leaders to choose top team

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels following deadlocked talks to decide who will get the bloc's most prestigious jobs.
PoliticsJune 30, 2019
A sinking euro coin

EU wants answers from Italy over debt

Italy's populist government is accused of exposing the bloc to financial problems by ignoring budget discipline rules.
PoliticsMay 29, 2019
New 100 and 200 euro notes

Europe introduces new €100 and €200 notes

The new bills have been designed to be harder to counterfeit.
BusinessMay 28, 2019
500 and 100 euro notes

Germany and Austria stop issuing €500 notes

The last of Europe's central banks have stopped issuing the large-denomination bank note.
BusinessApril 26, 2019
European Central Bank in Frankfurt

ECB keeps interest rates at record low

The ECB has kept its refinancing rate at zero, as it weighs risks to the economy from Brexit and trade disputes.
BusinessApril 10, 2019
Banners for Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank

A German banking marriage of convenience?

Reports that Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are on the brink of merger talks are gathering strength.
BusinessMarch 10, 2019
A giant euro sign outside the former headquarters of the ECB

ECB holds interest rates at record lows

The announcement comes as fears about Brexit and US-China trade tensions threaten growth across the bloc.
BusinessMarch 7, 2019
500 euro notes

Germany's sad farewell to €500 note

As the eurozone says goodbye to the €500 note, Germany and Austria are delaying their final farewell until April.
BusinessJanuary 27, 2019
A sign depicting the euro logo

Eurozone faces new downturn, Draghi admits

European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi has warned that weaker growth in the global economy will likely hit Europe too.
BusinessJanuary 24, 2019
Euro coins

EU minting more coins in cashless world

Even though a lot of the world is headed toward cashless payment, European central banks keep minting cash by the ton.
BusinessJanuary 3, 2019
Frankfurt Europäische Zentralbank

EU's top court rules ECB bond buying legal

The ECB's purchase of government bonds was an attempt to save countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal from default.
BusinessDecember 11, 2018
Presentation of the new banknotes

ECB unveils new €100 and €200 banknotes

The new euro notes will include the latest anti-counterfeiting features and come in a slimmer size.
BusinessSeptember 17, 2018
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Lehman Brothers: Lessons learned

A decade ago, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt. It marked the beginning of the worst financial crisis since the Second World War. The ECB introduced measures to limit the damage and learned a lot in the process. But the prospect of a new crisis continues to lurk in the shadows.
BusinessSeptember 13, 201801:58 min
Turkish lira

Will Turkey's economic woes reach Europe?

The Turkish lira has hit yet another all-time low. But will its spillover into the eurozone bring a bang?
BusinessAugust 10, 2018
ECB chief Mario Draghi

ECB on course to end stimulus

The ECB remains on track to pull the plug on its massive stimulus program for the eurozone, despite trade tensions.
BusinessJuly 26, 2018
Angela Merkel

Merkel on Italy: Eurozone shouldn't be debt union

Chancellor Angela Merkel has appeared to dismiss Rome's calls to the European Central Bank for debt forgiveness.
PoliticsJune 3, 2018
European Central Bank

ECB turns 20

The fact that the ECB would become so big and powerful was something that its founders did not expect 20 years ago.
BusinessJune 1, 2018
Giuseppe Conte after his meeting with President Mattarella

ECB warns new Italian leaders against spending

Italy's new government has the ECB and eurozone ministers looking anxiously to its spending plans.
PoliticsMay 24, 2018
Rotterdam port

ECB's Draghi: Eurozone growth slowing

The European Central Bank chief says after a period of higher than expected growth, "some moderation" has been noted.
BusinessApril 26, 2018
ECB logo

ECB inches toward stimulus exit

ECB policymakers have dropped talk of extending their bond-buying program, showing confidence in the eurozone economy.
BusinessMarch 8, 2018
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi in Brussels

Eurozone still requires stimulus: ECB's Draghi

European Central Bank head Mario Draghi says the eurozone still needs monetary stimulus to boost inflation.
PoliticsFebruary 27, 2018
A security guard speaks on her mobile phone at the head office of the ABLV Bank

Latvia scrambles to contain bank scandal fallout

Latvia's "bank clean-up" missed a few spots. Is the Kremlin trying to exploit them?
PoliticsFebruary 22, 2018
Marek Dietl, Warschauer Börse

Warsaw puts its money where its mouth is

Set against EU chastisement and volatility on global markets, Warsaw's bourse is looking pretty pleased with itself.
BusinessFebruary 19, 2018
The governor of Latvia's central bank, Ilmars Rimsevics

Latvia's banking head held in corruption probe

State television showed central bank chief Ilmars Rimsevics arriving by car at the anti-corruption agency.
Law and JusticeFebruary 18, 2018
Canary Wharf, London

ECB: 50 banks likely to quit London post-Brexit

Dozens of banks are in advanced talks with the European Central Bank about moving operations to the European mainland.
BusinessNovember 7, 2017
Symbolbild Eurobonds

Will ECB end QE?

The ECB will likely announce a reduction in its monthly purchases of government bonds when it meets this Thursday.
BusinessOctober 25, 2017
A huge euro sign being renovated

ECB struggles with boundaries

The ECB knows it can not change its loose monetary policy too rapidly. But doing nothing is no option either.
BusinessSeptember 5, 2017
USA EU Janet L. Yellen und Mario Draghi beim G7 Treffen in Sendai Japan

Central bankers to meet at Jackson Hole

The world’s most powerful central bankers are gathering in the US to exchange views over the many problems they face.
BusinessAugust 23, 2017
Deutschland Neuer 50-Euro-Schein soll sicherer gegen Fälschungen sein | Mario Draghi

ECB maintains bond-buying plan

The ECB has tried to play a balancing act, tempering expectations to avoid triggering serious market volatility.
BusinessJuly 20, 2017
Parteienfinanzierung Symbolbild

Will Draghi's ECB start scaling back money tap?

Draghi is expected to highlight the euro area's strengthening economy while underlining the need for caution.
BusinessJuly 19, 2017
Italien Veneto Banca

Italy to spend 17 billion euros on bank rescues

Both the debt-stricken Veneto Banca and Banca Popolare di Vicenza have been deemed to be "failing or about to fail."
PoliticsJune 25, 2017
Euro coin on flag

No ECB monetary policy reversal

The eurozone's monetary guardians have decided to keep the central bank's interest rates unchanged.
BusinessJune 7, 2017
Italienische Euro Münzen

Italy to stop clutter with small coin ban

The useless coins are just abandoned in car doors, hallway drawers and at supermarket checkouts, says the bill's backer.
BusinessMay 29, 2017
Griechenland Athen Anschlag auf Premierminister Lucas Papademos

Ex-Greek PM hurt in car blast

Greek former Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has been injured after an explosive device went off in his car, media say.
CrimeMay 25, 2017
Griechenland Fähren werden bestreikt

Greece hit by journalist, ferry strike

Greek ferry workers and journalists have begun a strike to protest at a new proposed austerity package.
PoliticsMay 16, 2017
Europäische Zentralbank in Frankfurt

ECB 'cautious' despite mounting pressure

Despite pressure on the ECB to raise interest rates, any amendments look unlikely until after June.
BusinessApril 27, 2017
Deutschland Neuer 50-Euro-Schein

New 50-euro bill launch

A new 50-euro note designed to be harder to forge is being launched in the 19 countries of the eurozone.
BusinessApril 3, 2017
Zentrale Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt

Frankfurt officials to brief banks on Brexit

Frankfurt will host a meeting with more than 20 foreign banks as thousands of jobs are set to move from London.
BusinessJanuary 25, 2017
Deutschland Eingangsschild Europäische Zentralbank EZB neue Zentrale

ECB prolongs asset buys

While leaving its key interest rates at historical lows, the European Central Bank has extended its bond-buying program.
BusinessDecember 8, 2016
EZB Neubau Gollum Graffiti

ECB caught in vicious cycle

The European Central Bank has done everything in its power to fuel inflation and growth, but with limited success.
BusinessDecember 2, 2016
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Draghi reaches 5 years as ECB president

ECB Chief Mario Draghi has been in the job for 5 years today.
BusinessNovember 1, 201601:57 min
Alexis Tsipras bei der heutigen Parlamentwahl in Griechenland

Greece to transfer state utilities to asset fund

State assets, including water and electricity utilities, are to be transferred to a new asset fund created by creditors.
PoliticsSeptember 28, 2016