The euro sign is seen on a board showing the currency exchange rates in Moscow, Russia March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/ File Photo
Euro currency bills are pictured at the Croatian National Bank in Zagreb, Croatia, May 21, 2019. Picture taken May 21, 2019. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic/ File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -There is early evidence that bond issuers and investors are making greater use of the euro, ING said in a report published on Wednesday to mark 100 days since ECB chief Christine Lagarde said the euro could become a viable dollar alternative.

The report stressed that Europe needs to deliver credible reforms to support the euro's role as a global currency and that competing against the dollar would not be easy.

Here are the ING report's key findings:

WHAT THE REPORT SAYS

Although the euro's share of global FX reserves held steady in Q1 at around 20%, year-on-year trends are positive and smaller reserve managers are emerging as new sources of demand for the euro.

The euro's share of SWIFT international payments has stagnated so far this year but trade deals between the EU and countries such as India could see the currency used more in invoicing.

And there has been some notable bond sales in euros by emerging markets, while foreign investors are playing an important role in buying additional bonds released into the market by the ECB's pull-back from bond-buying programs.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

The dollar's role as the world's No.1 reserve currency has been called into question this year by heightened policy uncertainty under U.S. President Donald Trump.

With the deepest and most liquid capital markets globally, the dollar is unlikely to be replaced anytime soon.

However, there is debate about who could benefit as sentiment towards U.S. markets turns, and the euro is a key contender.

KEY QUOTE

"It will rest on European politicians to make the euro zone an attractive investment environment and for euro-denominated assets to earn their fair share of global capital."

"Now is an exceptional opportunity, but Christine Lagarde and Mario Draghi still have some work to do to convince European governments to think more boldly," ING said.

CONTEXT

Lagarde said in May that there was an opening for a 'global euro moment,' and the currency could become a viable alternative if governments strengthen the bloc's financial and security architecture.

Mario Draghi, a former ECB chief and Italian prime minister, urged the EU in a 2024 report to forge a more coordinated industrial policy, make more rapid decisions and pursue massive investments to keep pace with the U.S. and China.

BY THE NUMBERS

Foreign investors bought around 186 billion euros worth of euro debt and roughly 46 billion euros of stocks between May and June, reinforcing support for the euro, ING said.

Around 22% of euro zone government bonds are foreign-held – well below the 34% share for U.S. Treasuries – but the rise from 19% since the start of quantitative tightening shows foreigners absorbing bond sales and helping to contain a rise in yields, it added.

(Reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe; editing by Alun John and Gareth Jones)