FRANKFURT, March 6 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, holding its nerve in the face of uncomfortably low inflation though it could still unleash other measures to pep up a fragile euro zone recovery.
Following are comments by ECB President Mario Draghi at a post-meeting news conference.
INFLATION
"The latest ECB staff macroeconomic projections now covering the period up to the end of 2016 support earlier expectations of a prolonged period of low inflation to be followed by a gradual upward movement in HICP inflation rates towards levels closer to 2 percent.
"Inflation expectations for the euro area over the medium to long term continue to be firmly anchored."
ECONOMIC RECOVERY ON TRACK
"Incoming information confirms that the moderate recovery of the euro area economy is proceeding in line with our previous assessment."
(London MPG Desk +44 207 542 4441)
((susan.fenton@thomsonreuters.com))
Keywords: ECB/RATES
