ECB’s High-Wire Act to Deliver Rate Liftoff Enters Final Stretch

With all the major euro-zone data out in the open, and key gatherings including an annual retreat out of the way, policy makers can focus on haggling over the size of rate hikes and the design of an anti-crisis measure.

ECB President Christine Lagarde reiterated to the annual gathering in the Portuguese resort of Sintra last week that the intention is to start with a quarter-point on July 21.

The European Central Bank’s bid to engineer its first interest rate hike since 2011 without causing the euro to splinter is about to take on new momentum.

Now officials have seen June’s record inflation reading, judged to be pivotal for their next monetary move, they’ll convene Wednesday for the final scheduled opportunity to prepare for their two-day meeting, starting July 20.