The European Central Bank (ECB) held its benchmark refinancing rate steady at 0.75 percent, as widely expected, and said it would comment on the decision at a press conference later today.
The euro area’s economy shrank for the second quarter in a row in the third quarter as the Gross Domestic Product of the 17 nations that share the single currency contracted by 0.1 percent following the second quarter’s 0.2 percent quarterly contraction.