Lagarde: Unless there is a major surprise, interest rates will be cut soon

On April 16, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday that the European Central Bank will still cut interest rates in the short term, provided there are no major surprises. "We just need to build more confidence in the disinflationary process, and if it develops as expected, if there are no major shocks in the development, we will move towards a moment when we have to ease restrictive monetary policy," she said. "If there are no new shocks, it is time to ease restrictive monetary policy in a reasonable short term." Asked about the central bank's confidence that inflation will continue to fall in the wake of higher commodity prices, especially with oil prices soaring amid geopolitical tensions, Lagarde replied: "All commodity prices have an impact, and we have to pay very close attention to these movements."