The European Central Bank should continue with half-point interest-rate increases at the next two meetings and the time to slow the pace of hikes is “still far away,” according to Governing Council member Klaas Knot. “We made a step down in December from 75 to 50 basis points — that will be the pace for a multiple number of meetings,” Knot told La Stampa in an interview. “So that means at least the two in February and March,” he said. “I do think that we will continue to be in tightening mode until the summer.” The second half of the year might “be a time in which we could make a further step down from 50 to 25 basis ... (full story)