ECB Keeps Policy Unchanged as Euro-Area Economy Faces New Risks

• European Central Bank officials reiterated their pledge to keep interest rates at record lows, giving themselves time to assess prospects for the euro area’s weakened economy as it confronts new risks.
• Five weeks after presenting a new long-term lending program, the ECB held off announcing more details in its policy statement on Wednesday.
• Uncertainties from global trade continue to cloud the region’s outlook, and the Governing Council may wait until June before deciding on how much stimulus will be needed.
• The ECB’s deposit rate, main refinancing rate and marginal lending rate will remain unchanged at -0.4%, 0% and 0.25%, respectively.

(Source: Bloomberg)