ECB President Mario Draghi To Face Grilling After European Central Bank Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged as expected on Thursday, holding them at record lows as it prints money to lift the economy and raise inflation.

The decision to leave rates on hold was expected by all 60 analysts polled by Reuters after the ECB cut its deposit rate deeper into negative territory last month as inflation prospects soured further.

Investor interest is focused on ECB President Mario Draghi's press conference beginning at 1230 GMT. Investors have expressed some doubt about the efficacy of the bank's measures for raising inflation.