ECB leaves rates unchanged as expected

It was widely expected after the ECB cut rates to rock-bottom levels a year ago

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

The decision to leave the cost of borrowing unchanged was widely expected after the ECB cut rates to rock-bottom levels a year ago and repeatedly said they had hit "the lower bound".

At Thursday's meeting, the ECB left its main refinancing rate, which determines the cost of credit in the economy, at 0.05 percent.

It also kept the rate on bank overnight deposits at -0.20 percent, which means banks pay to park funds at the central bank, and held its marginal lending facility - or emergency overnight borrowing rate for banks - at 0.30 percent.

Markets now turn their attention to ECB President Mario Draghi's 1230 GMT news conference, where he will also unveil the ECB staff's new inflation and GDP growth forecasts.