The European Central Bank has left its interest rate benchmarks and policy statement unchanged, underlining the bank's unwillingness to roil markets with premature signals about an exit from its stimulus efforts as the economy recovers.
The decision was announced after a regular meeting of the bank's 25-member governing council at its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.
The monetary authority for the 19 countries that use the euro currency said in its policy statement that it will keep injecting 60 billion euros ($A87 billion) in newly printed money into the economy every month at least through the end of the year, and longer if necessary.
Markets are waiting for the post-decision news conference held by bank president Mario Draghi for any clues about the bank's plans.
