ECB to keep interest rates unchanged at least through end of 2019

FRANKFURT, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Central Bank (ECB) Thursday announced to keep The key interest rates for The euro area unchanged at least through The end of 2019.

The eurozone base interest rate will remain at 0.00 percent, with The marginal lending rate and deposit rate staying at 0.25 percent and minus 0.40 percent respectively, according to The central bank.

Besides, The ECB decided to launch a new series of quarterly targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO-III), which will start in September 2019 and end in March 2021, each with a maturity of two years.

These new operations will help to preserve favorable bank lending conditions and The smooth transmission of monetary policy, The ECB said.