ECB holds rates with growth firmer and inflation near target

ECB president Christine Lagarde: 'We reconfirmed that we are in a good place, which does not mean that we are static.'

ECB President Christine Lagarde stated that 'inflation should decline in the near term'. Picture: Michael Probst/AP

The European Central Bank (ECB) left interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight meeting, as inflation hovers around target and the euro zone weathers global shocks.

The deposit rate was kept at 2%, as predicted by all analysts in a Bloomberg survey. Policymakers continued to offer no guidance on future steps, stressing that they will act one meeting at a time based on incoming data.