Laut der Umfrage zum Kreditgeschäft im Euro-Währungsgebiet vom Juli 2021 blieben die Kreditrichtlinien (d. h. die internen Richtlinien oder Kriterien einer Bank für die Kreditgewährung) für Unternehmenskredite (inklusive Kreditlinien) im zweiten Quartal 2021 weitgehend unverändert.

German economic activity likely grew strongly in the second quarter, largely offsetting the severe setback it suffered in the first quarter, the Bundesbank writes in its current Monthly Report. The services sector in particular contributed to the considerable recovery. Inflation is likely to rise as the year progresses.

The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided today to launch the investigation phase of a digital euro project. Following the decision, the President of the Eurogroup Paschal Donohoe joined the meeting, congratulated the Governing Council and expressed his full support for the project.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann believes the new strategy will help monetary policy maintain price stability for the people of the euro area. “A medium-term inflation rate of 2% is a clear and easily understandable objective. We are not striving for either lower or higher rates. That was important to me,” was how Mr Weidmann assessed the outcome of the strategy review.

Financial assets grew by €192 billion to €7,143 billion in the first quarter of 2021, exceeding the €7 trillion mark for the first time ever. Additionally to increases related to the purchase of financial assets, this growth was driven in particular by valuation gains on shares and investment fund shares.