ECB seen boosting stimulus by December

The European Central Bank isn’t done expanding its bond-buying programme yet, according to economists, despite recent remarks by policymakers that the outlook has brightened slightly.

More than half of respondents in a survey predict an increase in the ECB’s €1.35 trillion pandemic purchase programme by December, with most expecting an extension and a top-up of €500 billion. The Governing Council is seen keeping its policy unchanged when it meets next week. Expectations that the ECB will need to do more highlight the extraordinary uncertainty surrounding the recovery from the crisis.

Officials have said the latest data point to a relatively sharp bounceback.