Traders Betting on ECB Cut Spur Biggest Euro Drop in Five Months

Traders Betting on ECB Cut Spur Biggest Euro Drop in Five Months

(Bloomberg) --

Money markets are in no doubt the European Central Bank will cut interest rates next week, fueling the biggest decline for the euro since September.

Traders see a 100% chance of a 10 basis-point cut by the ECB, up from 80% on Tuesday. The prospects of more easing sent the euro tumbling as much as 0.7%, ending the currency’s best four-day winning streak in more than two years.

The ECB is seen pushing rates deeper into negative territory after the European Commission warned the coronavirus outbreak is threatening to plunge both France and Italy into recession.

Traders are pricing in similar moves from other central banks, including the Bank of England, which decides on borrowing costs at the end of March. They saw a roughly 70% chance of a 50 basis-point cut by the Bank of Canada at the close on Tuesday, and they were proved right.

The euro eased declines to 0.4% as of 3:18 p.m. in London to $1.1126.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

Get live Stock market updates, Business news, Today’s latest news, Trending stories, and Videos on NDTV Profit.
GET REGULAR UPDATES