Euro's Strength Unlikely to Alter ECB's Stance, Says ING Analyst

On February 2, according to Jin10, Francesco Pesole from ING stated in a report that the recent strength of the euro is unlikely to prompt European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde to change her stance on exchange rates during Thursday's meeting. Lagarde has repeatedly emphasized that the ECB does not target exchange rates but monitors the euro's movements due to its impact on inflation. Pesole noted that the euro's recent decline below 1.20 against the dollar may have alleviated policymakers' concerns. However, the market has not currently factored in the risk of the ECB expressing dissatisfaction with the euro's strength. If the ECB does highlight concerns over the strong euro, it could lead to a decline in the currency.