Lagarde says September interest rate decision is 'wide open'

Ms Lagarde said the ECB would keep monetary policy 'sufficiently restrictive for as long as necessary'

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde suggested the wars in Ukraine and Gaza could impact energy markets, which may impact inflation. Picture: AP/Michael Probst

European Central Bank (ECB) president Christine Lagarde closely guarded whether the regulator would cut interest rates further in September.

Speaking at a press conference in Frankfurt, Ms Lagarde said the Governing Council remained “wide open” to what it would do at its next monetary policy meeting in September, but experts have nonetheless predicted at least two more interest rate reductions by the end of the year.