BERLIN, December 3. The European Central Bank (ECB) kept its base rate at 0.05% per annum. The decision was made following the meeting of the ECB governing Council, according to the website of firewater.
In addition, the margin rate was left unchanged at 0.3%, while the Deposit rate was reduced to minus 0.3% from the previous minus 0.2%.
Most analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had expected the preservation of the ECB rate at the same level.
In addition, the ECB extended its stimulus programme until March 2017.
The ECB has improved the forecasts for GDP growth Eurozone in the years 2015-2017, said the head of the ECB Mario Draghi in the press conference following the meeting of the Bank.
So, the ECB raised its forecast for GDP growth in 2015 to 1.5% against 1.4% in the previous forecast, the forecast for 2016 is kept at the level of 1,7% and the forecast for 2017 improved to 1.9% from 1.8%.
In addition, the European Central Bank lowered its growth forecast for Eurozone inflation in 2017 to 1.6% from 1.7%, and in 2016 to 1% from 1.1%. The inflation Outlook in 2015 remains at the level of 0.1%.
