Swedish Riksbank's Thedeen says Middle East impact on March rate decision unclear
STOCKHOLM, March 3 (Reuters) - Swedish central bank Governor Erik Thedeen said on Tuesday it is too early to say what effect the situation in the Middle East will have on the Riksbank's monetary policy this month.
The Riksbank, which targets 2% inflation, is due to announce its next policy decision on March 19.
"A lot of information has come in and we need to evaluate that. There ... are factors that are pulling in different directions," Thedeen told reporters. "It is too early to say (how it will affect the decision). It has just happened and we are following developments minute by minute."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said the war against Iran was "not going to take years", as the conflict widened with Israel again attacking the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Iran striking Gulf states that host U.S. bases.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who launched strikes on Iran together with Israel on Saturday, initially projected the war to last four to five weeks.
The Riksbank in January left its policy rate unchanged at 1.75% and said it did not expect to make any adjustment for some time to come.
Thedeen on Tuesday said in a statement inflation, which was on target in February, may be slightly lower this year than previously forecast.
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