Marcus Ashworth, Columnist

ECB Should Seize the Day and Call Time on QE

There are risks to bonds from delaying the big announcement.

Draghi, just do it.

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
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Thursday's European Central Bank policy meeting poses a dilemma for President Mario Draghi: whether to announce the timetable to end quantitative easing even though the bloc faces serious political problems, or fudge the outlook for bond purchases in case more stimulus is needed, thereby alienating a huge swathe of the Governing Council which risks losing control of the debate.

The region’s bond market can survive the first choice. The second? That’s complicated.