FX.co ★ ECB Holds Rates for Third Straight Meeting

In October, the European Central Bank (ECB) opted to maintain interest rates for the third consecutive meeting, reflecting its confidence in the eurozone's robust economy and the easing of inflationary pressures. The main refinancing rate was held steady at 2.15%, and the deposit facility rate at 2.0%. The ECB highlighted that inflation hovers near its 2% medium-term target, with the Governing Council's outlook on inflation largely unchanged. Despite facing a challenging global landscape, the economy has shown continued growth, bolstered by a strong labor market, healthy private-sector balance sheets, and the effects of previous interest rate cuts, all of which contribute to the region’s resilience. Nevertheless, uncertainty lingers over the economic forecast, primarily due to ongoing global trade disputes and geopolitical tensions. The ECB reiterated its commitment to a data-driven, meeting-by-meeting strategy for setting monetary policy.