The European Central Bank cut interest rates on Thursday and kept the door open to further policy easing as concerns over lacklustre economic growth supersede worries about persistent inflation. Following are highlights of ECB President Christine Lagarde's comments at a news conference after the policy meeting.

During the press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde indicated that the central bank's macro assessment had hardly changed from its December meeting. The ECB still sees the disinflationary process on track and expects a pick up in demand, though it acknowledges the near-term weakness of the eurozone economy.

After lowering key rates in December, the ECB is widely expected to announce another 25 basis points (bps) cut, taking the benchmark rate on deposit facility from 3% to 2.75%. It would be the fourth straight interest rates cut after trimming them in September, October and December 2024.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is giving a press conference following the bank’s latest monetary policy decision.

The European Central Bank is widely expected to cut interest rates for the fifth time since it began easing monetary policy.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said it’s improbable that any European Union country will choose to add Bitcoin to its monetary reserves.

Speaking at a press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde suggested “liquid, secure and safe“ standards for central banks likely precluded Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP The European Central Bank cut interest rates again Thursday, January 30, and signaled more to come as the eurozone economy flatlines while warning of trade tensions and uncertainty amid American President Donald Trump's protectionist agenda.

The European Central Bank is set to lower interest rates for a fifth meeting as inflation that’s nearing the 2% target lets officials further loosen the shackles on the economy.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said Bulgaria is “well advanced” in the process of meeting the criteria for joining the euro.

"We are confident that inflation will hit target in 2025." "Services and in particular domestic inflation are still resisting, have gone up a little bit." "All indicators for wages are heading downward, confirming our confidence."