[Analysis: ECB May Raise Interest Rates Once or Twice This Year] Jinshi Data, March 19 – QUILTER CHEVIOT Head of Fixed Income Research: Given the current policy room available, it is conceivable that the European Central Bank (ECB) may take one or two interest rate hikes this year to prevent inflation surges caused by the continued rise in energy prices. The potential challenge lies in determining the most appropriate level of action, as Europe is still in a state of slow economic growth. Any rise in inflation will naturally suppress economic growth, so the ECB must avoid overly tightening policy and should continue to focus on the economic outlook. Of course, given the highly volatile situation in the Middle East, this is indeed very challenging, and thus the direction of interest rates remains highly uncertain at present.