Isabel Schnabel

Stories

ECB president Lagarde to step down in February, nine months early

Leaving January 3, 2027, for the IMF

Christine Lagarde leaves the European Central Bank on Feb. 7, 2027, about nine months before her term ends, after announcing on Oct. 29 that she wants freedom to speak on matters beyond monetary policy. Euro-area inflation reached 4% in October, up from 3.8% in September, led by energy costs.

Updated 10 hours ago

ECB revamps collateral rules, launches tokenised settlement pilot

Rule Changes

Announced resignation effective 3 January 2027; will take a senior IMF role

The European Central Bank is rebuilding how the euro area's money moves. In late September 2026, its Governing Council tightened collateral rules for central bank loans, switched on Pontes (a system that settles tokenised assets in central bank money), and extended the digital euro pilot to merchants. On 29 October, ECB President Christine Lagarde said she will step down on 7 February 2027.

Updated Oct 30