Eco Week Ahead

ECB Quarter-Point Quandary Keeps Market on Tenterhooks

  • Key US consumer-price data may show slowing annual growth
  • Chinese industrial report, UK labor numbers also scheduled

The European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

Photographer: Ben Kilb/Bloomberg
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European Central Bank officials will debate a quarter-point interest-rate increase on Thursday, and the decision could go either way.

It’s looking likely that the dynamics of the meeting in Frankfurt will determine whether policymakers opt for a 10th consecutive hike in borrowing costs or choose to pause, along with delivering a probable message of hawkishness.