ECB leaves key interest rate unchanged; eyes turn to Trichet upcoming comments

ECB keeps interest rates on hold

FRANKFURT, Germany — The European Central Bank says it is leaving its key interest rate unchanged at 1 percent.

The decision, widely expected by analysts and economists, was announced Thursday by the bank’s governing council.

It was the bank’s first monetary policy meeting since last month’s decision to buy government bonds to ease the debt crisis.

President Jean-Claude Trichet will hold a press conference at 1230 GMT.