[ECB Governing Council Member De Guindos: No Need to Rush Rate Hikes if Energy Markets Remain Calm] Jin10 News, July 1 – ECB Governing Council Member De Guindos stated that if the Middle East situation does not escalate further during the next decision period, the European Central Bank may keep interest rates unchanged at its next meeting. Speaking at the Sintra Forum on Tuesday, he said that if energy prices remain stable, commodity volatility does not spread, and second-round effects do not materialize, pausing rate hikes would be reasonable. “If oil and gas prices remain persistently low, there is no need to rush into further tightening,” he said. “Based on current data, adopting a wait-and-see approach before September might be an appropriate course of action.” With several weeks to go before the next decision, market conditions remain volatile. De Guindos warned that the situation could change at any time, and geopolitical risks have not fully subsided. “Hostilities have flared up again in recent days,” he said. “Although all parties hope for a lasting resolution, the conflict is unlikely to be resolved in the short term, and uncertainty remains elevated.”