With the release of the US Federal Reserve's December FOMC minutes, cautious optimism regarding monetary policy has emerged on one side of the Atlantic, while on this side, the European Central Bank's (ECB) current stance paints a balanced picture of the economic outlook. At its December 18th meeting, the ECB kept its main interest rates unchanged, maintaining the deposit rate at 2.00%; it confirmed the stabilization of inflation towards its medium-term target of 2%, while revising its growth projections upwards and highlighting the resilience of the Eurozone. Maintaining its data-driven approach, the ECB is preserving a cautious balance in the face of global uncertainties. These monetary policy differences between the two shores offer important clues for global markets as we head into 2026.