«(...) [The] increase in the
euro's value against the dollar since 2011 had driven down the price of
commodities such as fuel in euro terms, contributing to low inflation. (…)
[The] central bank might take steps to encourage banks to lend more. (…) [Mario
Draghi also] cited data showing that even
profitable companies in (...) Portugal have trouble getting banks loans.
(…) [One-third] of Portuguese companies face credit constraints, Mr Draghi
said, compared with only 1 percent in Germany and Austria. (…) There has been
speculation the European Central Bank might
issue cheap loans to euro zone banks, with
strings attached to ensure they lend the money to businesses rather than
investing bonds, as that happened in the past.
