Forexpros – The European Central Bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the second consecutive month in August, it announced on Thursday.
The ECB said it was maintaining the benchmark interest rate at 1.50%, in a widely expected move, after raising rates in July.
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet was to comment on the decision at a press conference later in the day.
Following the announcement, the euro was down against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD slumping 0.51% to trade at 1.4250.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 edged 0.2% higher, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.3%, Germany’s DAX eased down 0.05%, while the FTSE 100 dropped 1%.
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