The ECB is in a bind over rate hikes — the private sector could be doing the bank's job for it

Market expectations that the European Central Bank will hike interest rates this year have already contributed to tighter financial and lending conditions. The "transmission of tighter policy is already underway," Goldman Sachs noted.

CNBC • May 29, 2026

European stocks to open lower as traders assess chances of Iran peace deal

European stocks are expected to open in negative territory on Thursday as investors assess the prospects of a peace deal to end the Iran war.

CNBC • May 28, 2026

ECB's decision to hold rates was close call for some, accounts show

The European Central Bank's decision to keep rates ​unchanged last month was ‌a close call for some policymakers as signs of persistently high ​inflation made it hard ​to look past the energy-driven shock, ⁠the accounts of the ​meeting showed on Thursday.

Reuters • May 28, 2026

Eurozone Business Confidence Inches Higher as Selling-Price Expectations Cool

Selling-price expectations eased across all business sectors, interrupting the steep upward trend seen in the last two months.

WSJ • May 28, 2026

European markets head for mixed open as traders assess fragile U.S.-Iran truce

European stocks are expected to open in mixed territory on Wednesday as regional investors assess the latest military operations against Iran.

CNBC • May 27, 2026

European stocks set for modest gains as Iran war dampens outlook, poll shows

European shares will struggle to post further gains for the rest of this year, a Reuters poll found, weighed down by the ​economic hit from the Iran war and a relative lack of popular AI-related stocks.

Reuters • May 27, 2026

Six countries resist EU plan to reduce free carbon permits

An EU plan to gradually reduce the number of free CO2 permits given ‌to industries has hit resistance from six governments that have demanded looser rules to help firms cope with the energy price impact of the Iran war, a document seen by Reuters showed.

Reuters • May 27, 2026

European stocks set to open lower following U.S. strikes on Iran, mixed messages on peace talks

European stocks were set to open lower Tuesday, as traders watched developments in the Middle East and Ukraine.

CNBC • May 26, 2026

ECB 'will do what is necessary' to tame inflation, Bank of France governor tells CNBC

The European Central Bank "will do what is necessary" to keep inflation on target, one of its top policymakers told CNBC. Markets are overwhelmingly pricing in a rate hike from the central bank at its next meeting.

CNBC • May 26, 2026

Euro zone may face pockets of stress from private credit, not systemic risk: ECB

The euro zone is not facing systemic risk from the recent turbulence in private credit markets but a few pockets of the financial system are exposed and some ​tension may already be visible, the European Central Bank said in a report ‌on Tuesday.

Reuters • May 26, 2026