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ECB to leave interest rates low for 'extended period' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The European Central Bank (ECB) president, Mario Draghi, says that eurozone interest rates will remain low for an extended period. | |
Mr Draghi also said they could fall to even lower levels. | |
His comments followed the ECB's regular meeting at which it kept rates unchanged at a barely perceptible 0.05% in the face of near-zero inflation. | |
The overnight deposit rate was left at -0.3%. At the ECB meeting in December, this rate had been cut from -0.2%. | |
That move was an attempt to push banks to lend instead of parking money at the ECB. | |
He told a news conference: "As we start the new year, downside risks have increased again amid heightened uncertainty about emerging market economies' growth prospects, volatility in financial and commodity markets and geopolitical risks." | |
He said that that could make it necessary to review - and possibly reconsider - monetary policy at the next meeting in early March. | |
That meeting will have a new set of ECB macroeconomic projections to work with. | |
Mr Draghi said that the recent falls in the oil price meant that inflation was likely to be "significantly lower" compared with the outlook in early December. | |
In December, the ECB had also extended its monthly €60bn stimulus programme by six months to March 2017. | In December, the ECB had also extended its monthly €60bn stimulus programme by six months to March 2017. |
There is speculation that the ECB will have to step up its attempts to stimulate the eurozone economy later this year. | There is speculation that the ECB will have to step up its attempts to stimulate the eurozone economy later this year. |
Inflation in the eurozone is currently at 0.2% - well short of the ECB's target of close to, but below, 2%. | Inflation in the eurozone is currently at 0.2% - well short of the ECB's target of close to, but below, 2%. |
Eurozone inflation was below zero - that is, prices were falling - as recently as September, mainly due to falls in international energy prices, particularly crude oil. | Eurozone inflation was below zero - that is, prices were falling - as recently as September, mainly due to falls in international energy prices, particularly crude oil. |
In December, Mr Draghi said that eurozone inflation was expected to reach 1% in 2016. However, the ECB's forecasts were based on the assumption of oil prices averaging more than $50 a barrel this year, and oil is currently below $30. | In December, Mr Draghi said that eurozone inflation was expected to reach 1% in 2016. However, the ECB's forecasts were based on the assumption of oil prices averaging more than $50 a barrel this year, and oil is currently below $30. |