The Latest Breaking News from Christine Lagarde

US President Donald Trump's on-and-off tariffs have clouded the picture for European Central Bank policymakers meeting this week to decide whether to lower eurozone interest rates again.

Inflation in the eurozone slowed further in March, official data showed on Tuesday, indicating possible breathing room for policymakers despite the threat of turbulence from US trade tariffs.

She also stressed the importance of strengthening European independence in defence, energy, finance, and digital sectors.

Donald Trump’s tariffs may hit EU growth and push up inflation, posing a dilemma for the ECB. While trade slows and prices rise, some economists argue rate cuts remain appropriate, so long as inflation expectations stay anchored.

The claims appear to have sprung from reports that the Nordic countries have started advising citizens to keep a supply of cash at home in the case of a digital banking crisis.

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde's recent remarks on a "digital euro" prompted a fresh wave of misinformation online, highlighting an uphill battle ahead to convince the public of the project's merits.

Eurozone consumer confidence weakened as looming trade tariffs raised concerns over growth and inflation. Meanwhile, Germany approved a massive fiscal package, but economists urged caution over immediate excitement.

The rally in European stock markets took a breather as EU leaders struggled to secure a €5 billion funding package for Ukraine. Investor sentiment was further dampened by the ECB’s cautious outlook on the economy and inflation, triggering selloffs, particularly in the defence and automotive sectors.

A trade war could push up eurozone inflation by half a percentage point alone with detrimental effects on growth, ECB’s Lagarde warns. The ECB president said rising trade tensions and a weaker euro could complicate monetary policy.

March S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESH25) are down -0.73%, and March Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQH25) are down -0.93% this morning, tracking losses in European equities after ECB President Christine Lagarde stated that U.S. tariffs heightened uncertainty over the economic outlook.

March S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESH25) are up +0.18%, and March Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQH25) are up +0.25% this morning, extending yesterday’s gains after the Federal Reserve indicated there remains scope to lower interest rates later this year, as any tariff-driven rise in inflation is expected to be temporary.