ECB Signals June Rate Cut, But Warns of 'Bumpy' Road on Wages

The European Central Bank is signaling a potential interest rate cut as early as June, as inflation shows encouraging signs of easing toward the bank's 2% target. However, President Christine Lagarde cautioned that the path to lower inflation will be 'bumpy,' pointing to sticky wage growth as a key obstacle complicating the decision.

The potential policy shift comes after a period of aggressive tightening that saw the ECB hold its key interest rate at a record high since its last hike in September 2023. Now, with inflation trending downward, officials appear more confident that the worst is over. "We are making good progress towards our inflation target," Lagarde noted in a recent statement, reinforcing market expectations for a summer cut.

For investors, the takeaway is clear: while the direction of travel for ECB rates seems to be downward, the timing and pace are far from certain. All eyes are now on the upcoming wage reports and the ECB's June policy meeting, which will be critical in shaping the Eurozone's economic trajectory for the second half of the year.