ECB spat erupts over rate hikes ahead of key meeting next week    

Ignazio Visco rebuked his European Central Bank colleagues for breaking ranks to comment about potential interest rate hikes

Ignazio Visco, governor of the Bank of Italy, criticised ECB colleagues saying he does not 'appreciate statements by my colleagues about future and prolonged interest rate hikes.' File picture

Ignazio Visco has openly criticised hawkish European Central Bank colleagues for making statements about future increases in borrowing costs when officials had agreed not to give such guidance.

The outburst by the Bank of Italy governor, in added remarks at the end of a speech in Rome, is a pointed public attack that hints at rising tensions behind closed doors in advance of next week’s decision.