The European Union "could and should" delay the implementation of certain bank capital rules if the U.S. drags its feet too long on fully implementing the Basel III rules, ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Wednesday. President Emmanuel Macron and other French officials have long complained that U.S. banks are not applying the Basel III post-financial crisis capital rules, putting their European rivals at a competitive disadvantage. Villeroy, who is head of the French central bank, said U.S. regulators had committed as recently as this month to "fully and faithfully" implement the Basel III international minimum bank capital rules.
The ex-Trump aide predicted the former president's response whatever way his hush-money trial goes.
A European Central Bank interest rate cut on June 6 appears certain, according to all 82 economists polled by Reuters, a majority of whom predicted two further reductions in September and December. But financial markets are pricing only two ECB rate cuts in total in 2024, a sharp pullback from six expected at the start of the year, presenting an uncommon situation where economic forecasters expect more rate reductions than traders. Despite encouraging signs on inflation, a recent pickup in wage growth has raised questions over how fast the ECB may be able to lower rates.