ECB's Draghi to Gauge His Optimism in the Economy


From business confidence in Germany to manufacturing in France and consumer spending in Italy, a smattering of data from across the 19-nation euro area will provide a glimpse at the state of the recovery. The European Central Bank president, who has become more upbeat on the economy since announcing his quantitative-easing program two months ago, will get a chance to present his view on Monday when he addresses the European Parliament in Brussels.

His words will come only days after protesters vented their anger outside the ECB’s new headquarters in Frankfurt over the institution’s perceived role in imposing fiscal austerity and economic hardship throughout Europe. With unemployment still near record highs and strong support for populist parties like Greece’s Syriza threatening to tear apart the currency bloc, pressure is building on Draghi to ensure that monetary stimulus reaches beyond banks’ balance sheets.

“Draghi will continue to cheerlead the effects of the ECB’s QE but warn that you need reforms to make the recovery extended and long-lasting,” said Thomas Harjes, senior European economist at Barclays Plc in Frankfurt. “There is still a significant amount of discontent in states that saw a surge in unemployment, and for this to change you really need a turn in employment dynamics.”

Recommended Content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD clings to gains near 1.0700, eyes on key US data

EUR/USD clings to gains near 1.0700, eyes on key US data

EUR/USD clings to gains near the 1.0700 level in early Europe on Thursday. Renewed US Dollar weakness offsets the risk-off market environment, supporting the pair ahead of the key US GDP and PCE inflation data. 

EUR/USD News

USD/JPY keeps pushing higher, eyes 156.00 ahead of US GDP data

USD/JPY keeps pushing higher, eyes 156.00 ahead of US GDP data

USD/JPY keeps breaking into its highest chart territory since June of 1990 early Thursday, recapturing 155.50 for the first time in 34 years as the Japanese Yen remains vulnerable, despite looming intervention risks. The focus shifts to Thursday's US GDP report and the BoJ decision on Friday. 

USD/JPY News

Gold price lacks firm intraday direction, holds steady above $2,300 ahead of US data

Gold price lacks firm intraday direction, holds steady above $2,300 ahead of US data

Gold price remains confined in a narrow band for the second straight day on Thursday. Reduced Fed rate cut bets and a positive risk tone cap the upside for the commodity. Traders now await key US macro data before positioning for the near-term trajectory.

Gold News

Injective price weakness persists despite over 5.9 million INJ tokens burned

Injective price weakness persists despite over 5.9 million INJ tokens burned

Injective price is trading with a bearish bias, stuck in the lower section of the market range. The bearish outlook abounds despite the network's deflationary efforts to pump the price. Coupled with broader market gloom, INJ token’s doomed days may not be over yet.

Read more

Meta Platforms Earnings: META sinks 10% on lower Q2 revenue guidance Premium

Meta Platforms Earnings: META sinks 10% on lower Q2 revenue guidance

This must be "opposites" week. While Doppelganger Tesla rode horrible misses on Tuesday to a double-digit rally, Meta Platforms produced impressive beats above Wall Street consensus after the close on Wednesday, only to watch the share price collapse by nearly 10%.

Read more

Majors

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures