[Analyst: ECB Likely to Keep Rates Unchanged This Week While Maintaining a Hawkish Stance] Jin10 News, July 21 – Nuveen Global Investment Strategist Laura Cooper stated in a report that following the rate hike in June, the European Central Bank (ECB) is likely to keep rates unchanged at this week’s meeting but will maintain a hawkish stance. Cooper noted that if renewed tensions drive energy prices higher, the ECB will remain open to further tightening of policy. She said inflation is more moderate than feared, with little sign of re-acceleration in the pricing sub-index of the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), while producer price data confirms that upstream cost pressures are easing. “These factors provide justification for staying on hold this month,” she said. However, the complexity lies in the potential disruption of commodity supplies once again, which could reignite energy price pressures just as the ECB is gaining confidence in the path of inflation easing.