The central banks set the pace

With a view to the new stock market week, one thing can already be said: it won’t be boring. This is especially true from Wednesday. Then the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will announce its interest rate decision, followed a day later by the European Central Bank (ECB). What the central banks will decide they communicated relatively clearly in advance, but it will still be exciting.

The Fed is likely to raise interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to a range of 4.5 to 4.75 percent. The ECB is expected to raise interest rates by half a percentage point. The key interest rate for short-term loans is likely to rise to three percent. The deposit rate, which is important for the markets and at which banks park money with the ECB, will probably be increased to 2.5 percent.