ECB keeps policy, guidance unchanged

The European Central Bank reaffirmed its ultra-easy policy stance on Thursday, even keeping the door open to increasing bond purchases, dashing hopes it would formally signal its intent to claw back stimulus from next year.

The ECB kept rates at their record lows, confirmed that asset buys would continue at 60 billion euros ($71.76 billion) per month at least until December and said it could even increase or expand the asset purchases if needed, sticking with its long-held super easy stance.

The statement is likely to rattle some investors who expected the ECB to start laying the groundwork for a cut in monetary stimulus because growth is robust, the threat of deflation long gone and unemployment falling fast -- all supporting the case for removing at least some of the bank's extraordinary measures.

Investor attention now turns to ECB President Mario Draghi's 1230 GMT news conference, during which he may still offer at least some clues to the evolution of the bank's view on stimulus and will also detail new economic projections.

"If the outlook becomes less favourable...the Governing Council stands ready to increase the programme in terms of size and/or duration," the ECB said in a statement.

The euro remained roughly 0.5 percent higher against the dollar after the ECB's decision.
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