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Mārtiņš Kazāks, Bank of Latviawatch nowOn a 50-basis-point rate cut: "Well, everything should be on the table, you know, given what the data tells us. Klaas Knot, Netherlands central bankwatch now"Are we risking a structural undershoot of our inflation target? Joachim Nagel, German central bankwatch nowOn rate cuts: "This discussion about 25 or maybe something different is not helpful. On rate cuts: "The direction is clear. Gediminas Šimkus, Bank of Lithuaniawatch nowOn rate cuts: "We are clearly moving ... towards the direction of easing monetary policy.

Persons: Karen Tso, Pierre Wunsch, I'm, we've, Mario Centeno, Klaas, It's, Robert Holzmann, Joachim Nagel, disinflation, Volcker, Olli Rehn, it's, Gediminas Šimkus, Boris Vujčić Organizations: European Central Bank, International Monetary, Bank of Latvia, National Bank of Belgium, Bank of Portugal, Austrian National Bank, Bank of France, Bank of Finland, Bank of Lithuania, Croatian National Bank Locations: Washington ,, Kazāks, Netherlands, German, Galhau, Europe

Mārtiņš Kazāks, governor of the Bank of Latvia and a member of the European Central Bank's Governing Council, on Thursday weighed in on the possibility of a jumbo half-point interest rate cut for December. When asked for his views on a 50-basis rate cut by the ECB at its next meeting, he said that "everything should be on the table." "But we will have that discussion in December," he told CNBC's Karen Tso at the IMF's annual meetings in Washington, D.C. Thursday. His comments come after the ECB delivered a back-to-back interest rate cut for the first time in 13 years at its October meeting. It also comes a day after Portuguese central bank chief Mario Centeno made similar comments.

Persons: Mārtiņš Kazāks, CNBC's Karen Tso, —, Mario Centeno, Centeno Organizations: Bank of, European Central Bank's Governing, ECB, CNBC Locations: Bank of Latvia, Washington ,, Portuguese

☆ Dollar stands tall on bets for slower Fed cuts, potential Trump win
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar traded close to a three-month high against major peers on Thursday, underpinned by expectations for a slower pace interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and growing bets of a possible second Donald Trump presidency. The U.S. dollar traded close to a three-month high against major peers on Thursday, underpinned by expectations for a slower pace interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and growing bets of a possible second Donald Trump presidency. This week, Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid said he would prefer to "avoid outsized moves", and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker backed "a slow, methodical approach" to further easing. The dollar has now "punched through key technical resistance levels" against the yen, "opening the door for higher levels", Catril said. Although opinion polls indicate a neck-and-neck race with Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, cryptocurrency-prediction exchange Polymarket has seen a sharp rise in bets for a Trump win.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jeffrey Schmid, Patrick Harker, Rodrigo Catril, Catril, Trump, Kamala Harris, Christine Lagarde, Mario Centeno Organizations: U.S ., Federal Reserve, Kansas, Philadelphia Fed, Treasury, National Australia Bank, UST, Republican, Democratic, Trump, of, Traders, European Central Bank, Wednesday Locations: Japan, Sunday's

☆ UniCredit's pursuit of Commerzbank reflects a watershed moment for Europe — and its banking union
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Kirill Kudryavtsev | Afp | Getty ImagesEuropean banking's latest takeover battle is widely regarded as a potential turning point for the region — particularly the bloc's incomplete banking union. Whatever the outcome of UniCredit's swoop on Commerzbank, Marsh said the episode marks "another huge test" for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. What is Europe's banking union? OMFIF's Marsh said Germany's opposition to UniCredit's move on Commerzbank means Berlin "now stands accused of favouring European banking integration only on its own terms." The logo of German bank Commerzbank seen on a branch office near The Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt.

Persons: Kirill Kudryavtsev, Italy's UniCredit, David Marsh, Marsh, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, –, Germany's Scholz, OMFIF's Marsh, UniCredit's, Daniel Roland, Onur Genç, Mario Centeno, CNBC's, —, Centeno Organizations: European Central Bank, Afp, Getty, London, European Union, CNBC, BBVA, Banco Sabadell, Reuters, European Central Bank's Governing, EU Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Milan, Europe, Commerzbank, Italy, Berlin, Spanish, Brussels, Spain

☆ ECB's Centeno: We have been postponing the recovery in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailECB's Centeno: We have been postponing the recovery in EuropeECB Governing council member Mario Centeno joins Street Signs in an exclusive interview, commenting on recent data, and his outlook for the European economy.

Persons: Mario Centeno Organizations: Europe ECB Locations: Europe

☆ ECB's Centeno on banking consolidation in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailECB's Centeno on banking consolidation in EuropeECB's Governing Council member Mario Centeno says officials must work through politicians' comments and focus on their job to finish the banking union.

Persons: Mario Centeno Locations: Europe

☆ Here's what 12 European Central Bank members said about interest rates this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The ECB opted to hold rates steady in April and next meets to vote on monetary policy on June 6. Christine Lagarde, president of the ECBThe ECB's figurehead delivered a firm message that reflected her statements in recent press conferences: markets should expect an interest rate cut soon, barring major surprises. watch nowGabriel Makhlouf, governor of the Central Bank of IrelandMakhlouf said the most recent data sets had shifted his view on rates. "We don't follow the Fed... and now the ECB will be the central bank to be followed," Šimkus said. One could have cut rates way back in March or even April," he continued, adding that he hoped a majority of Governing Council members would back a June cut.

Persons: Kirill Kudryavtsev, Christine Lagarde, Lagarde, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Galhau, Villeroy, Karen Tso, Joachim Nagel, Germany's, Nagel, Robert Holzmann, Mario Centeno, Centeno, Gabriel Makhlouf, Central Bank of Ireland Makhlouf, we've, Makhlouf, Pierre Wunsch, Wunsch, Boris Vujčić, Jerome Powell, Vujčić, Gediminas Šimkus, Bank of Lithuania Šimkus, Šimkus, Edward Scicluna, Central Bank of Malta Scicluna, Kazāks, Bank of Latvia Kazāks, Olli Rehn, Rehn Organizations: Afp, Getty, International, European Central Bank, CNBC, ECB, Bank of France, Council, Austrian Central Bank One, Bank of Portugal, Central Bank of Ireland, National Bank of, Croatian National Bank, Federal, U.S, Bank of Lithuania, Central Bank of, Governing, Bank of Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, New York, ECB's, National Bank of Belgium, U.S, Europe, Central Bank of Malta, Bank of Latvia, Bank of Finland

☆ Gold shines as geopolitical tensions offset easing U.S. rate-cut bets
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee holds one kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold prices climbed on Thursday, as risks of a widening Middle East conflict raised bullion's safe-haven appeal, overshadowing pressures from higher-for-longer U.S. interest rates. Spot gold was up 0.6% at $2,374.97 per ounce, as of 0429 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $2,431.29 last Friday. Although, "U.S. interest rates remaining higher for a longer may be adding some pressure to the ongoing boost for gold ... Higher interest rates reduce the appeal of holding non-yielding bullion.

Persons: Kelvin Wong, Benjamin Netanyahu, Wong, Jerome Powell, Mario Centeno Organizations: Co, Asia Pacific Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, OANDA, Israel, Iran

Alex Kraus | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesEuropean Central Bank policymaker Joachim Nagel said Wednesday that a rate cut for the institution looks increasingly likely for June, but added that certain parts of the incoming inflation data still look higher than desired. watch nowEarlier Wednesday, Mario Centeno, governor of Portugal's central bank, said it was "about time to change this monetary policy cycle." The ECB's June interest rate decision would be "very important," he said. Markets are widely pricing in the first rate cut from the ECB to take place in June. watch nowEarlier this week, ECB President Christine Lagarde said that unless there were any major shocks, the ECB was on track to cut interest rates soon.

Persons: Joachim Nagel, Alex Kraus, Central Bank policymaker Joachim Nagel, Germany's Bundesbank, Karen Tso, " Nagel, —, Mario Centeno, CNBC's Tso, Christine Lagarde, disinflation, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Robert Holzmann, Holzmann, wasn't Organizations: Deutsche Bundesbank, Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg, Getty, Central Bank, ECB Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Washington ,, Europe, Portugal's, Austrian, East

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with ECB policymaker Mario Centeno
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with ECB policymaker Mario CentenoMario Centeno, Governor of the Bank of Portugal, discusses the inflation outlook, and shares his views on prospective ECB rate cuts.

Persons: Mario Centeno Mario Centeno Organizations: ECB, Bank of Portugal

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Down to Davos
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Asia markets fell, led lower by declines in Hong Kong stocks, as Japan shares cooled off from their record-breaking rally. Georgieva told CNBC on the sidelines of Davos that the world's second-largest economy is facing both short-term and long-term challenges. [PRO] Morgan Stanley picks 'alpha' stocksAlpha stocks are those that can beat the benchmark index, and Morgan Stanley picked its favorite plays in Asia.

Persons: Martin Luther King Day, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Robert Holzmann, it's, Mario Centeno, Georgieva Organizations: CNBC, ECB, European Central Bank, Economic, International Monetary Fund, Alpha Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, Davos, Switzerland, China, Pacific

☆ As others try to quash rate cut talk, European Central Bank's Centeno flags inflation progress
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Euro zone inflation is moving in the right direction, Portugal's central bank governor Mario Centeno said Tuesday, despite his peers on the European Central Bank Governing Council striking a more hawkish tone in recent days. "We target medium term inflation, we don't target February inflation, and the trajectory is very positive right now," Centeno told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "I don't say that overshooting is a possibility, but we don't need to do more than is needed to bring inflation in the medium term to 2%. Since the end of 2022, all our forecasts to 2025 show a very well-anchored forecast for inflation in the medium term." Services inflation is falling faster than it went up and is on a particularly positive course, according to Centeno.

Persons: Mario Centeno, Centeno, Robert Holzmann, Holzmann, We've Organizations: European Central Bank Governing Council, CNBC, Economic, ECB Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Austrian

☆ Centeno says ECB remains data dependent, inflation moving in right direction
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCenteno says ECB remains data dependent, inflation moving in right directionBank of Portugal Governor Mário Centeno discusses the economic and inflationary outlook at the World Economic Forum 2024.

Persons: Centeno, Mário Centeno Organizations: Bank of Portugal

☆ Holiday thins trading after data slows dollar's decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Vidya Ranganathan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With markets shut in Japan and the United States for the Thanksgiving holiday, currencies barely moved and cash U.S. Treasuries weren't traded in Asia. By 0530 GMT, however, the euro was 0.15% higher at $1.0902 and the dollar index was a tad weaker at 103.71. Adding to investors' confusion, data showed orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods fell more than expected in October, signalling an economy cooling considerably after hot third-quarter growth. The dollar's rebound comes after a three-week long spell of weakness driven by evidence of a slowing economy and disinflation, leading markets to price out any additional Fed rate hikes. The forward-looking flash November purchasing manager indexes (PMIs) are also due out globally on Thursday and should help investors assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts will begin.

Persons: Marcos Brindicci, Treasuries weren't, Jeff Ng, Treasuries, policymaker Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Vidya Ranganathan, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Federal, University of Michigan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Fed, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Governing, PMI, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rights SINGAPORE, Japan, United States, Asia, Britain, U.S

☆ Morning Bid: Watching what the ECB giveth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Vidya Ranganathan. The forward-looking flash November PMIs due out globally should help investors assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts will begin. Interest rate futures show the market is pricing in rate cuts by April and more aggressively so in June . Later on Thursday, Sweden's central bank will announce its latest policy decision in what is expected to be a very close call on whether to hike again. A Reuters poll showed 10 of 19 economists looked for a rise, while market pricing is leaning against a move.

Persons: Vidya Ranganathan, haven't, Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel's, Christine Lagarde's, Jeremy Hunt's, Van Haaren, ECB's Isabel Schnabel, Robert Holzmann, Francois Villeroy de, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Vidya, European Central, PMI, ECB, Reuters, Ubezpieczen SA, Virgin Money, Bank of France, Thomson Locations: Japan, United States, Britain, U.S, Sweden's

☆ Holiday thins trading after data nudges dollar higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

With markets shut in Japan and the United States for the Thanksgiving holiday, currencies barely moved and cash U.S. Treasuries weren't traded in Asia. The dollar index rose overnight, bouncing from a 2-1/2 month low, after economic data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week. The weakness in the dollar has buoyed the yen , along with expectations the Bank of Japan may shift away from its ultra-loose monetary policy next year. The dollar index was just 0.03% lower at 103.84, with the euro unchanged at $1.0887. The forward-looking flash November purchasing manager indexes, or PMIs, are also due out globally on Thursday and should help investors assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts will begin.

Persons: Treasuries weren't, Jeff Ng, Treasuries, policymaker Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao Organizations: U.S ., Federal Reserve, University of Michigan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Fed, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Governing, PMI Locations: Japan, United States, Asia, Britain, U.S

☆ Dollar climbs after U.S. labor, consumer sentiment data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The fact that we are seeing a drop definitely suggests that the labor market is not cooling as quickly as markets or the Fed might have been expecting there," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto. Schamotta also said market participants were maintaining relatively high dollar positions before liquidity dries up before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. The greenback extended gains after the University of Michigan's survey of consumer sentiment showed U.S. consumers' inflation expectations rose for a second straight month in November. UMich inflation expectationsThe dollar index rose 0.37% to 103.9, on track for its biggest one-day percentage gain since Nov 9. The Japanese yen weakened 0.82% to 149.61 per dollar, while Sterling was last trading at $1.249, down 0.37% on the day.

Persons: Karl Schamotta, Schamotta, CME's, policymaker Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, Chuck Mikolajczak, Will Dunham, Richard Chang Organizations: Labor Department, Reuters, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit's Big, Federal, Fed, University of Michigan's, European Central Bank, Investors, Thomson Locations: Toronto, U.S

☆ Dollar strengthens after U.S. labor, consumer sentiment data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Schamotta also said market participants were maintaining relatively high dollar positions before liquidity dries up before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. The Fed minutes showed Fed officials said inflation remained well above their target but noted that rates would need to be raised only if new data showed insufficient progress on reducing price pressures. The greenback extended gains after the University of Michigan's survey of consumer sentiment showed U.S. consumers' inflation expectations rose for a second straight month in November. The dollar index rose 0.64% at 104.17 and was on track for its biggest one-day percentage gain since Oct 24. The Japanese yen weakened 0.86% versus the greenback at 149.66 per dollar, while Sterling was last trading at $1.246, down 0.65% on the day.

Persons: Karl Schamotta, Schamotta, CME's, Mario Centeno, Sterling, Chuck Mikolajczak, Will Dunham Organizations: Labor Department, Reuters, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit's Big, Federal, Fed, University of Michigan's, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Toronto, U.S

☆ Centeno says outgoing Portugal PM only invited him to ponder on premiership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Bank of Portugal Governor Mario Centeno, who is under fire from the opposition over an invitation by the outgoing prime minister to replace him as premier, said on Monday he never accepted the offer but was just asked to ponder on the matter. Portuguese opposition parties on Friday argued that such an invitation compromised the political independence of a central bank governor. The Bank of Portugal's ethics committee is expected to meet on Monday to evaluate his conduct. Prime Minister Antonio Costa stepped down on Tuesday over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of lithium and hydrogen projects and a large-scale data centre. Centeno announced his departure from the finance ministry in June 2020, during Costa's second term, and was nominated to head the bank a month later.

Persons: Mario Centeno, Antonio Costa, illegalities, Costa, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Centeno, Rebelo de Sousa, Olli Rehn, Balazs Koranyi, Francesco Canepa, Andrei Khalip, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Bank of Portugal, Socialist, European Central Bank policymaker, Bank of, ECB, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Portuguese, Bank of Portugal, ECB's, Finland, Frankfurt

☆ Portuguese Central Bank to Assess Governor's Conduct - Local Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON (Reuters) - The Bank of Portugal's ethics committee will meet on Monday to evaluate the conduct of governor Mario Centeno, whose independence came into question after the departing prime minister proposed him as a potential replacement, local media said. Local media reported that Centeno had agreed to let his name go forward, raising concerns that his links to the PS remained strong and calling into question his independence if he remained central bank governor. Rebelo de Sousa rejected Costa's proposal and called the election instead. Centeno's quick move from the finance ministry to the central bank in July 2020, during Costa's second term, had previously raised eyebrows. A central bank spokesperson said it was up to the committee to comment on the matter.

Persons: Mario Centeno, Antonio Costa, illegalities, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Costa, Rebelo de Sousa, Centeno, Costa's, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, Negocios, Catarina Demony, Sergio Goncalves, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Bank, Socialist, European Central Bank policymaker, Local, Social Democrats, Eco, Jornal Locations: LISBON

By law, an election needs to be held within 60 days of the publishing of the presidential decree dissolving parliament. "I hope that time, sooner rather than later, will allow us to clarify what happened," Rebelo de Sousa said. By calling the March election, Rebelo de Sousa also addressed the need of the PS to pick a new leader to run. Earlier, PS President Carlos Cesar said March would be the best timing, while other parties pointed to January or February. "It is urgent to reestablish trust and prestige in democratic institutions," the leader of the PSD, Luis Montenegro, said after the president announced the election.

Persons: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Rebelo de Sousa, Antonio Costa, illegalities, Costa, Rebelo, Mario Centeno, Filipe Garcia, Mercados, Carlos Cesar, Andre Ventura, Luis Montenegro, Catarina Demony, Sergio Goncalves, Andrei Khalip, Marguerita Choy, Alistair Bell Organizations: Lawmakers, Socialist, Socialist Party, of State, Prosecutors, Bank of Portugal, Social Democrats, PSD, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Portugal, Portuguese, Lisbon, Belem, Europe, Western, Montenegro

☆ European stocks open higher as positive momentum continues; UK GDP meets expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.5% in early trade with all sectors in the green. The Stoxx closed at a three-week high on Wednesday after notching its best one-day performance in 11 months on Tuesday. Attention will be on the consumer price index released later today. European Central Bank officials also continued to reinforce the message that rates may have peaked. Elsewhere, figures published Thursday morning showed the U.K. economy grew 0.2% month-on-month in August, in line with economists' expectations.

Persons: Mario Centeno Organizations: U.S . Federal, European Central Bank, Bank of Portugal, CNBC, ECB

☆ ECB done with hikes barring unforeseen shocks, Bank of Portugal's Centeno says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailECB done with hikes barring unforeseen shocks, Bank of Portugal's Centeno saysGovernor of the Bank of Portugal Mario Centeno discusses peak rates, the risks of overtightening, ECB tools and the euro zone economy.

Persons: Portugal's Centeno, Bank of Portugal Mario Centeno Organizations: Bank, Portugal's, Bank of Locations: Bank of Portugal, overtightening

☆ ECB's Centeno says rate cycle likely completed, inflation retreating
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The cycle of interest rate hikes by the European Central Bank has likely come to an end as inflation across the euro zone is retreating faster then it rose, ECB Governing Council member Mario Centeno said on Wednesday. "We can expect that the rate cycle has been completed by now, and with present conditions," he told reporters in Lisbon. Centeno warned that even as the ECB's nominal interest rates could now remain stable due to declining inflation, real interest rates that directly impact companies, households and economies were still expected to increase, requiring "some caution with decisions in the near future". "The transmission of monetary policy is delayed in time, takes time to happen and does not impact all countries in the same way at the same time," Centeno added. Reporting by Sergio Goncalves, edititng by Andrei Khalip, Bernadette Baum and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mario Centeno, Centeno, Sergio Goncalves, edititng, Andrei Khalip, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Lisbon

☆ Portugal approves 30% cut in mortgage rates for struggling borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Portugal's government said on Thursday that banks must discount the benchmark six-month Euribor rate by 30% when calculating mortgage interest rates if asked to do so by borrowers struggling to deal with rising interest rates and avoid default. Around 90% of Portugal's stock of 1.4 million mortgages have variable rates indexed to euro interbank offered rates (Euribor) , one of the highest levels in the euro zone. But interbank rates have soared as the European Central Bank hiked interest rates from record lows. "As a result of this measure, the implied interest rate on mortgages cannot exceed 70% of the six-month Euribor rate in the next two years," Finance Minister Fernando Medina told a news briefing. Those with mortgages indexed to three- and 12-month Euribor rates will also receive a discount equal to the nominal amount resulting from the cut in the six-month rate, he added.

Persons: Fernando Medina, Banks, Medina, Mario Centeno, Association of Portuguese Banks APB, Sergio Goncalves, Andrei Khalip, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: European Central Bank, Finance, Bank of Portugal, Association of Portuguese, Thomson Locations: LISBON

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