ECB-Meeting of 17-18 July 2024-Account of the monetary policy meeting of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank

August 22, 2024--Held in Frankfurt am Main on Wednesday and Thursday, 17-18 July 2024
1. Review of financial, economic and monetary developments and policy options
Financial market developments
Ms Schnabel noted that since the Governing Council's previous monetary policy meeting on 5-6 June 2024, financial markets had moved in response to political news, which had caused some volatility, and in response to weaker than expected US inflation data.

The announcement of snap elections in France had dented investors' risk appetite and the rally in euro area risk asset markets. However, the resulting rise in volatility in some market segments had remained contained and short-lived, without signs of systemic stress or fragmentation. Risk premia had risen only modestly, and the euro exchange rate had recovered quickly.

Macroeconomic news had been muted, with small negative macroeconomic surprises in both the euro area and the United States. Expectations regarding ECB policy rates had remained broadly unchanged amid some volatility following the elections for the European Parliament, but had edged lower after the release of US consumer price index (CPI) data. Euro area financial conditions had also remained broadly unchanged, with continued benign market conditions. The absorption of the net issuance of government bonds had continued to proceed smoothly as investor demand remained strong.

ESMA's activities in 2024 focused on strengthening the EU capital markets and putting citizens and businesses at the heart of it

June 16, 2025-The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU's financial markets regulator and supervisor, has published its Annual Report for 2024. The activities conducted and results achieved in 2024 support ESMA's strategic priorities and thematic drivers- to foster stable and effective markets, strengthen supervision, and enhance retail investor protection while enabling sustainable finance and facilitating technological innovation and the use of data.