ECB’s de Guindos backs ending bond purchases in July

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Vice-President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Luis de Guindos gives a statement during the second day of the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Economics and Financial Affairs in Berlin, Germany September 12, 2020. Odd Andersen/Pool via

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – The European Central Bank should end its Asset Purchase Programme in July and could raise interest rates that same month, in September or later, ECB vice-president Luis de Guindos said in an interview published on Thursday.

“My opinion is that the programme should end in July and for the first rate hike we will have to see our projections, the different scenarios and, only then, decide,” de Guindos told Bloomberg.

“From today’s perspective, (raising rates in) July is possible and September, or later, is also possible,” he added.