Euribor in 2011: chart, averages and key events

Euribor 2011 overview

Euribor rates in 2011 reflected the monetary policy environment and economic conditions of the Eurozone. The European Central Bank's decisions on interest rates directly influenced the level at which banks lent to each other, and thus the 6 month and 12 month Euribor benchmarks used for variable-rate mortgages and loans across Europe. The average 6 month Euribor for 2011 stood at 1.636%. Over the course of the year, the rate ranged from a low of 1.254% to a high of 1.818%, illustrating the volatility and shifts in money market conditions. The financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent European sovereign debt crisis led to sharp ECB rate cuts. Euribor fell dramatically as the central bank provided unprecedented liquidity support. By 2012, rates had reached historically low levels. Understanding Euribor in 2011 helps place current rates in context. The benchmark is published daily by the European Money Markets Institute and serves as the reference for millions of variable-rate loans across the Eurozone. Historical trends illustrate the cyclical nature of interest rates and the impact of central bank policy on household and business borrowing costs.