As investors gear up to hear the latest monetary policy decision from the European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday, markets widely expect there to be no changes in interest rates or the asset purchase program, although the monetary authority’s president Mario Draghi could give indications on his feeling of when an eventual reduction in asset purchases could occur.
The ECB’s latest interest rate decision is due at 12:45GMT (7:45AM ET), though expectations are low for any action after the central bank surprised markets back in December by saying it would extend its monthly bond purchases through to the end of the year, but trimmed the amount by €20 billion to €60 billion euros ($63.6 billion) starting in April.
Most of the focus will likely be on ECB president Mario Draghi’s press conference 45 minutes after the announcement.
Source: Investing.com (19 January 2016)