The European Central Bank's (ECB) Governing Council announced in a statement on Thursday that it decided to hold the interest rates on the main refinancing operations, on the marginal lending facility and on the deposit facility at 0.00%, 0.25% and negative 0.50%, respectively.
"Monthly net purchases under the [Asset purchase program] APP will amount to €40 billion in April, €30 billion in May and €20 billion in June," the central bank noted, adding that economic data indicators have reassured the ECB that "net asset purchases under the APP should be concluded in the third quarter."
The ECB specified that any interest rate changes it may opt for will be carried out "some time after the end of... net purchases under the APP and will be gradual."