ECB top official signals interest rate hike as war in Iran pushes up energy and transportation costs

"We need to stay calm, but I would say that a reaction from the ECB may be closer than many people think," Kazimir says.

"I don't want to speculate whether it will be in April or June. But we will be ready to act if necessary," he adds.

In the fixed income market, pricing points to an interest rate hike from the ECB in June.

The ECB's monetary policy decisions affect the Swedish Central Bank's room for maneuver and thus may indirectly affect Swedish mortgage interest rates.