ECB rate decision: times, what to look at and impact on the euro
Updated 2026-09-20
How the ECB meeting works, decision and press conference times, what to watch and how EUR/USD reacts.
What it is
The European Central Bank's Governing Council decides eurozone monetary policy, setting the key interest rates (in particular the deposit facility rate). There are about eight monetary policy meetings a year.
Times
The decision is normally announced at 14:15 Frankfurt time (13:15 in the UK) and the President's press conference begins shortly after, at 14:45. The exact time is in the site's calendar.
What to look at
Beyond the rate, what counts are the tone of the statement, indications about next steps (forward guidance), new inflation and growth projections and the answers at the press conference.
Impact on markets
EUR/USD and the other pairs with the euro are the most sensitive. An ECB more restrictive than expected tends to support the euro; a more accommodative one to weaken it. European government bond yields react too.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the ECB move the euro?
Because interest rates determine a currency's yield: differences with the Fed shift capital flows and therefore EUR/USD.
Times and forecasts in the economic calendar
Check the calendar for the exact time, the forecast and the actual figure as soon as it is published.
Open the calendarRelated entries
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Educational content, not financial advice. Trading involves risk.