ECB's `Flexible' QE Model Falls Short on German Bond Purchases

  • QE-implied buying of Germany, Portugal, Ireland falls short
  • Substituted with continued over-buying in France, Italy
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European Central Bank data showed it fell short of its target for purchases of German bonds under its quantitative-easing program for a third straight month in June, while favoring French and Italian securities as it combats a shortage in the euro region’s benchmark sovereign debt.

The ECB fell short of its implied buying target, as dictated by the capital key, by 304 million euros ($345 million) last month, following a shortfall of 277 million euros in May, while the weighted average maturity rose to 5.33 years from a record-low 3.99 years in May.