00:02The move had been priced in by almost all analysts.
00:06The European Central Bank has kept its key deposit rate unchanged at 2% on Thursday as it assesses the
00:13fallout from the Middle East war.
00:14The Central Bank said it was determined to ensure that inflation stabilizes at the 2% target in the medium
00:21term.
00:21In addition, President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde said inflation in the Eurozone is expected to jump to
00:282.6%, stressing the war has made the outlook more uncertain.
00:33Inflation has been revised up compared with the December projections, especially for 26.
00:39And this is because energy prices will be higher owing to the war in the Middle East.
00:46The ECB considers that the Iran war will foster inflation through higher energy prices in the short term.
00:52Yet the bank says its long-term consequences will depend on the intensity and the duration of the conflict
00:58and on how energy prices affect consumer prices and the economy.
