Reference rate unchanged at the all-time low of 0,05% in the euro area. This was established by the ECB, which also confirmed the deposit rate at -0,30%, the one that had been reduced by 10 basis points at the beginning of December. Finally, the rate on marginal refinancing operations was confirmed at 0,30 per cent.
The Governing Council's decisions are in line with expectations, given that last month the institution has already significantly strengthened its economic stimulus measures, with which it hopes to accelerate the return of inflation to more acceptable values.
But now the turbulent start to the year on the Stock Exchanges and the tensions that have re-emerged in the banking sector, particularly in Italy, but not only, with the thorny management of non-performing loans, are holding the court. It will now be up to the president Mario Draghi, in the usual press conference at 14 pm, to take stock of the situation.
