ECB Likely to Avoid a Long-Term Commitment in December: Lagarde

Christine Lagarde, head of the European Central Bank (ECB), speaks at a press conference in Frankfurt, Germany, on Oct. 28, 2021. Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images

FRANKFURT—The European Central Bank may set policy for a relatively short period at this month’s meeting given heightened uncertainty but should not delay a decision as markets need direction, ECB President Christine Lagarde told Reuters on Friday.

Conservative policymakers have called on the ECB to avoid long-term commitments at the Dec. 16 gathering given recent high inflation readings and a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, including the emergence of the Omicron variant.