European Central Bank Launches Negative Interest Policy Experiment

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By Jon C. Ogg Published
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The European Central Bank (ECB) has now done something most of have never seen before. It has adopted its own quantitative easing method by adopting at least a partial negative rate environment. Mario Draghi and his team lowered the bank deposit facility rate to -0.10% from 0.00% on Thursday. The refinancing rate was cut to 0.15% from 0.25%, and the marginal lending facility rate was cut to 0.40% from 0.75%.

All of these rate cuts will take effect on June 11. The real question is whether this was enough of quantitative easing for the markets. Last week the hopes were that Draghi would adopt a more serious quantitative easing strategy to spur growth while simultaneously trying to slay the beast of deflation.

Unfortunately, the ECB does not package many statements outside of the decisions. The press conference starts slightly later, and a separate press release will be made on the details of implementing the negative deposit facility rate.

As a reminder, most of us have never really seen a negative rate policy. The move to fight deflation is considered by most economists as even more important than spurring growth.

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About the Author Jon C. Ogg →

Jon Ogg has been a financial news analyst since 1997. Mr. Ogg set up one of the first audio squawk box services for traders called TTN, which he sold in 2003. He has previously worked as a licensed broker to some of the top U.S. and E.U. financial institutions, managed capital, and has raised private capital at the seed and venture stage. He has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as New York and Chicago, and he now lives in Houston, Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at University of Houston in 1992. a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

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