ECB's Visco on Bloomberg

  • If necessary we will extend QE, we will look at inflation, other things
  • We have to be sure movement towards 2% inflation continues
  • In principle, we're worried about the impact of negative rates on banks
  • We can't stay with negative rates forever
  • "We look very much at inflation expectations"
  • Inflation expectations have not recovered
  • Markets are looking at the same figures as us. There is a lot of uncertainty and that's affecting investment
  • We have not discussed Deutsche Bank
  • Credit is not picking up "very strongly"

"We never talked about tapering, neither officially nor unofficially, in the corridors, in the rooms, nothing," he said.

That's a strong denial.

"We have been making very clear that we have this program in place until the end of March and beyond if needed," he also said.

So what the ECB might be setting up is for a taper starting in April.