ECB chiefs preach patience without ruling out April cut

The wagers by markets come despite pleas from the likes of the International Monetary Fund that central bankers around the world don’t loosen monetary policy too hastily, before inflation is overcome

A key consideration for the ECB is whether the surprisingly strong labour market is softening, lowering the risk that elevated pay gains will keep price pressures high.

European Central Bank officials said they’re in no hurry to lower interest rates, but kept alive the possibility of a move in April that’s become the focus of markets.

Bets on a cut that month intensified after investors deemed pushback by ECB president Christine Lagarde to be weak. A day later, on Friday, several of her colleagues stressed patience and a dependence on data in determining next steps. But they shied away from the June timetable they’d looked like converging around as recently as last week.