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The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time in a row to boost the sluggish economy. The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time in a row on Thursday, and hinted that with inflation approaching 2% and the economy in trouble, it will further cut interest rates next year. The deposit interest rate was lowered by 25 basis points to 3%, which was in line with the expectations of all but one of the analysts surveyed. This makes the total easing range since June reach 100 basis points. In its statement, the European Central Bank abandoned the wording that the policy would be "fully restrictive for a necessary long time", indicating that its position has changed. "The Management Committee is determined to ensure that the inflation rate is sustainably stabilized at the medium-term target of 2%." The European Central Bank said on Thursday. "The central bank will adopt a method of relying on data and meeting one after another to determine the appropriate monetary policy stance."The European Central Bank predicts that inflation will decline in 2025, and the European Central Bank currently predicts that inflation will cool down slightly faster than predicted in September. The bank's latest forecast shows that the average inflation rate in 2024 and 2025 is 2.4% and 2.1% respectively, while the previous forecast is 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. After cutting interest rates by 25 basis points, the European Central Bank said in a statement: "The anti-inflation process is on the right track." The bank said: "Domestic inflation has declined slightly, but it is still at a high level, mainly because wages and prices in some industries are still adapting to the past inflation surge, but there is a great delay." The European Central Bank maintains its inflation forecast of 1.9% in 2026, and predicts that the average inflation rate in 2027 will be 2.1%. 

The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time in a row to boost the sluggish economy. The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time in a row on Thursday, and hinted that with inflation approaching 2% and the economy in trouble, it will further cut interest rates next year. The deposit interest rate was lowered by 25 basis points to 3%, which was in line with the expectations of all but one of the analysts surveyed. This makes the total easing range since June reach 100 basis points. In its statement, the European Central Bank abandoned the wording that the policy would be "fully restrictive for a necessary long time", indicating that its position has changed. "The Management Committee is determined to ensure that the inflation rate is sustainably stabilized at the medium-term target of 2%." The European Central Bank said on Thursday. "The central bank will adopt a method of relying on data and meeting one after another to determine the appropriate monetary policy stance."Central Economic Work Conference: Give play to the traction role of economic system reform and promote the landmark reform measures to be effective. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11 to 12. The meeting proposed to complete the deepening and upgrading of state-owned enterprise reform with high quality and introduce the private economy promotion law. Carry out special actions to standardize law enforcement involving enterprises. Formulate guidelines for the construction of a unified national market. Strengthen supervision and promote the healthy development of platform economy. Make overall plans to promote the reform of the fiscal and taxation system and increase local independent financial resources. Deepen the comprehensive reform of investment and financing in the capital market, open up the blocking points of medium and long-term funds entering the market, and enhance the inclusiveness and adaptability of the capital market system. (Xinhua News Agency)Ceng Gang, Shanghai Finance and Development Laboratory: Judging from the economic situation and policy space, it is still possible to lower the RRR and cut interest rates in the future. The Central Economic Work Conference proposed to implement a moderately loose monetary policy. In this regard, Ceng Gang, chief expert and director of Shanghai Finance and Development Laboratory, said that the tone of "moderately loose" monetary policy is in the same strain as that of Politburo meeting of the Chinese Communist Party. China's monetary policy has been adjusted from "steady" to "moderately loose", aiming at boosting economic growth and alleviating downward pressure through a more active monetary policy, while providing support for key areas and structural adjustment. In response to the expression of "timely RRR cuts and interest rate cuts", Ceng Gang believes that from the current economic situation and policy space, it is still possible to implement RRR cuts in the future, especially in targeted cuts to required reserve ratios, to release long-term liquidity; The possibility of interest rate cuts is also greater, and it is expected that a one-time large-scale interest rate cut will be implemented at the end of this year or early next year. (SSE)

Central Economic Work Conference: Effectively loosen the burden on the grass-roots units, so that cadres who want to be officers and know how to be officers can be officers and get things done. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 11 to 12. The meeting stressed that it is necessary to strengthen the party's leadership over economic work, persist in doing things first, enhance confidence, face difficulties, and work hard to ensure that the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee are implemented. It is necessary to strengthen positive incentives and stimulate the endogenous motivation of entrepreneurs. Effectively loosen the burden on the grassroots, so that cadres who want to be officers and officers can be officers and do things. Unswervingly punish corruption and maintain a fair and just market environment and a clean and honest business environment. Persist in seeking truth from facts and being pragmatic, and resolutely oppose formalism and bureaucracy that are keen on showing up to the top, not being responsible for the bottom, and not considering actual results. (Xinhua News Agency)Analysis: Lagarde's speech increased the market's bet to cut interest rates by 50 basis points. In December, the European Central Bank lowered its economic forecast and inflation forecast. At the press conference, European Central Bank President Lagarde paid attention to the downside risks of economic growth, especially mentioning that trade friction may put pressure on economic growth, and also mentioned that they discussed cutting interest rates by 50 basis points. Therefore, the atmosphere of the whole meeting is biased towards doves. The market then increased its bet on a 50 basis point rate cut after January. Although the possibility of a sharp interest rate cut in January is stable at 30%, the possibility of a 50 basis point interest rate cut in March has increased from 30% before the meeting to 40%, and the possibility of a 50 basis point interest rate cut in April has increased from 0% to 5%.NATO Secretary General Rutte: We will need to spend far more than 2% of GDP on national defense.