Press Release: Monetary policy decisions, December 2015 / Introductory statement to the press conference (with Q&A). Mario Draghi, President of the ECB, Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the ECB, Frankfurt am Main, 3 December 2015

The European Central Bank (ECB) decided on 3 December 2015 to fix interest rates at a record low of -0.30 percent and to extend for three months its stimulus programme for the eurozone economy.

The bank was expected to continue to buy €60 billion in bonds each month – an operation known as quantitative easing (QE) – to boost growth and target a close to two percent inflation rate. It will extend the scheme to bonds issued by regional and local authorities.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 03.12.15: ECB disappoints despite rates cuts and stimulus programme https://euobserver.com/economic/131373

Politico, 03.12.15: Markets unimpressed by ECB stimulus shot http://www.politico.eu/article/draghi-tries-another-stimulus-shot-markets-unimpressed-quantitative-easing/

ECB: Press Release, 03.12.15: Introductory statement to the press conference (with Q&A). Mario Draghi, President of the ECB, Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the ECB, Frankfurt am Main, 3 December 2015 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pressconf/2015/html/is151203.en.html

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 04.12.15: ECB extends bond-buying programme http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER174410-ECB-extends-bond-buying-programme

Deutsche Welle, 03.12.15: ECB cuts deposit rate, extends asset buying http://dw.com/p/1HGJN

BBC News, 03.12.15: ECB moves to boost eurozone economy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34996922

ESO: Background information: ECB ready to do more if inflation outlook weakens, Draghi tells MEPs http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-ecb-ready-to-do-more-if-inflation-outlook-weakens-draghi-tells-meps/

ESO: Background information: Will the ECB expand Quantitative Easing? http://www.europeansources.info/record/will-the-ecb-expand-quantitative-easing/

ESO: Background information: ECB announces expanded asset purchase programme http://www.europeansources.info/record/ecb-announces-expanded-asset-purchase-programme/

Blog: Open Europe, 04.12.15: ECB roils markets with disappointing stimulus package http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/ecb-roils-markets-with-disappointing-stimulus-package/

Social Europe Journal, 03.12.15: The Great FED – ECB Monetary Policy Divergence http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/12/the-great-fed-ecb-monetary-policy-divergence/

Politico, 10.12.15: The house that Mario built http://www.politico.eu/article/the-house-that-mario-draghi-built-european-central-bank-president-euro-headquarters/

EurActiv, 13.01.16: ‘Zeroflation’ baffles central bankers http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/zeroflation-baffles-central-bankers-320919

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