The European Central Bank decided in its meeting today, Thursday, May 4, to raise interest rates by 25 basis points, as expected, to reach 3.75%.

The interest statement issued by the bank stated that inflation expectations are still very high, but the information received each year supports the assessment of inflation expectations in the medium term that the bank formed at its previous meeting, and that the bank’s future decisions will ensure raising interest to sufficiently restricted levels to achieve the return of inflation to the bank’s target. 2%.

The Board announced today that the APP portfolio is declining at a measured and predictable pace, and the decline will reach 15 billion euros per month, on average, until the end of June 2023.

The Board expects to stop reinvestment operations as of July. With regard to the PEPP program, the Board intends to reinvest the principal payments purchased until at least the end of 2024.

After less than half an hour, the markets are waiting for the bank’s president Christine Lagarde’s press conference to answer journalists’ questions.

The euro is trading at 1.1035, up about 30 points against the US dollar.