Author: 123jump.com Staff
123jump.com
Last Update: 5:39 PM EDT May 08 2008

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England left rates unchanged as inflation hovers near or above target level. Unlike the Federal Reserve in the U.S., central banks are hawkish in Europe when it comes to inflation. Recent surge in crude oil price and worldwide food price surge have fueled inflation and fears of wage inflation. InBev, UniCredit and Raiffeisen International fell on earnings. Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Commezbank fell after the rate decision.