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Invisible smoke plumes for the ECB

It was March 2015 when Otmar Issing, an early board member of the ECB and the bank’s former chief economist, poured me a cup of coffee. Like two war veterans, we sat on the 60th floor of the Messeturm in Frankfurt, gazing out at the smoke plumes marring the city’s skyline. Issing had seen something like it before—just as I had.

Lagarde unintentionally reveals a glimpse behind the ECB-scene

Naturally, the interest rate decision and everything surrounding it took centre stage earlier this month when the European Central Bank (ECB) board met in Frankfurt. And of course, questions during the press conference focused on what we can expect in the coming quarters. Like many others, I was tuned in, eager for insights.

Seeing northern lights? Almost as rare as an ECB interest rate shift

Imagine standing in the Dutch polder, gazing at a sky illuminated by the ethereal northern lights. It’s a rare event, almost as rare as the European Central Bank (ECB) adjusting interest rates before the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed). Yet, this unusual monetary phenomenon is set to occur when the ECB convenes in June to discuss interest rates.