Interest rates are now getting into restrictive territory so fast rate hikes would be unwise, unless policymakers were sure of the destination, Panetta said at an event in London.
The ECB all but promised a 50 basis point rate hike for
March when it met earlier this month, even as Panetta called for
smaller steps and said the ECB should not "unconditionally"
pre-commit to future policy moves.
(Reporting by Marc Jones; writing by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by
Raissa Kasolowsky)