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Ready for a French test?: Five questions for the ECB

The ECB is expected to hold its key rate at 2.5% on Thursday, after raising rates in June and September to curb inflation that the Iran war pushed up by lifting energy prices above $100. September headline inflation was 3.8%, while rising government bond yields raise concerns about growth, and economists polled by Reuters expect a rate hike in December. Core inflation edged up to 2.5% from 2.4%, suggesting second-round effects from energy costs have not yet become clear. French 10-year bond yields hit 24-year highs above 5%, widening the spread over Germany to 170 bps from 92 bps, but the ECB is not expected to act soon with its Transmission Protection Instrument. The article also notes that Christine Lagarde could leave the ECB early, with Klaas Knot and Pablo Hernandez de Cos seen as frontrunners.

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Original headline: Ready for a French test ?: Five questions for the ECB

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