ECB leaves rates unchanged as expected

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, holding them at record lows as it prints money to lift the economy and raise inflation. The decision to leave the cost of borrowing unchanged was widely expected after the ECB cut rates to rock-bottom levels a year ago and repeatedly said they had hit "the lower bound". At Thursday's meeting, the ECB left its main refinancing rate, which determines the cost of credit in the economy, at 0.05 percent.