Eurozone: It’s the end of QE as we know it…

The ECB meeting next week will not only be the last meeting of the year but will also be a historic meeting. It should mark an important step in returning monetary policy to normality. Only, hardly anyone seems to be interested. Thanks to changes in the communication back in June, market participants and ECB watchers have been well prepared for the gradual end of the ECB’s net asset purchases. Anything else than the announcement to bring these purchases down to zero by year-end at Thursday’s meeting would be a great surprise.

The biggest unknown at next week’s meeting should be the ECB’s latest staff projections and the Governing Council’s assessment of the economic situation. Up to now, ECB senior officials have maintained their relatively upbeat take on the eurozone economy, despite a recent and more subtle shift towards putting more emphasis on downside risks. Back in September, the ECB saw GDP growth at 2.0% this year, 1.8% in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020. Headline inflation was expected to come in at 1.7% in all three years. In the meantime, the market consensus has clearly shifted to the downside.

When analysing the ECB’s projections, keep in mind that compared with the September projections, the external assumptions have changed significantly. In particular, the sharp drop in oil prices, in terms of both spot and forward prices, should have boosted GDP growth and lowered the headline inflation forecasts. While the trade-weighted exchange rate has remained broadly stable, long-term interest rates have come down, also inserting some stimulus to GDP growth. Taken together, all changes in the external assumptions could add some 10 basis points to GDP growth and shave off 10 basis points from headline inflation. As regards growth, however, this should be too little to offset the impact from a weak 3Q on 2018 and 2019 growth. Any downward revisions to below 1.6% for 2019 and beyond would, in our view, signal a clear shift towards more pessimism. Finally, the forecast horizon will be extended to 2021. Keep a close eye on the inflation projections for 2021.

During the press conference, ECB President Mario Draghi will probably also be asked questions about details of the reinvestment programme and possible new liquidity injections. The changes to the capital key do not necessarily have to affect the reinvestment programme. As regards new targeted long-term refinancing operations, the discussion within the ECB has already started with an aim to avoid any liquidity shortages. A new TLTRO in the summer of 2019 with a variable interest rate could be a way out but currently comes too early, as it could be perceived as direct support to Italian banks.

With the end of the net asset purchases, at least one unconventional measure should be shelved now. Expectations that the end of QE would lead to surges in bond yields have – so far – been proven wrong. However, let’s not forget that there is still a reinvestment programme in place. The ECB’s balance sheet will hardly shrink in the coming months. As successful as the transition has been, there will be little time for the ECB to relax. As of next week, all eyes will be on what is coming next.

For the time being, the ECB should keep all its cards close to its chest and stick to the current forward guidance on rates and the reinvestment horizon of at least one year. This keeps all options open for further normalisation and a first rate hike at the end of next year but also for keeping rates at their current level for much longer. However, if things really get nasty, next year’s discussions on the timing of the first rate hike could easily morph into discussions on whether the second unconventional measure (negative deposit rates) should be shelved or whether to hike rates at all.