Banque de France

The Banque de France, France's central bank, is currently newsworthy due to several recent developments. Firstly, it has lowered its growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing the impact of the Middle East conflict on energy prices. The bank now projects GDP growth of 0.9% in 2026 and inflation at 1.7%, following a 0.9% growth in 2025. Secondly, the Banque de France is actively involved in discussions surrounding the potential implementation of a digital euro, including its implications for sovereignty against stablecoins and the US dollar. Erick Lacourrège, a director general at the Banque de France, participated in a debate on this topic. Finally, the bank has completed the modernization of its gold reserves by repatriating gold stored in New York to Paris, resulting in a significant capital gain of approximately 12.8 billion euros. This highlights the Banque de France's role in managing the nation's financial assets and navigating the evolving landscape of digital currencies.