Comments in the opening statement

Lagarde
  • Eurozone contracted in the fourth quarter
  • ECB ready to adjust all instruments as needed
  • ECB monitoring FX for impact on inflation
  • Uncertainty remains high
  • Inflation remains very low
  • Downside risks to short term outlook, but less pronounced
  • Renewed infections and lockdowns are disrupting activity
  • interest rates to remain at 0 until at least inflation 'robustly converges' to our target of close to, but below 2%
  • Sees upward pressure on inflation over medium term once the pandemic fades
  • Market-based expectations of inflation expectations have increased slightly

The euro has been contained since the statement after an earlier pop to 1.2167.

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