The ECB is Expected to Keep Its Key Rates Unchanged

The main refinancing rate is expected to remain at 2.15%, while the deposit facility rate will stay at 2%. Investors will also be attentive to the macroeconomic projections from the ECB, which will be published after the meeting and will provide updated forecasts for growth and inflation. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the ECB reduced its borrowing costs by 200 basis points, marking a pause in July. Markets currently anticipate that rates will be held steady until the end of the year, with a potential return to tightening by late 2026. Meanwhile, growth in the eurozone is projected at 1.2% for this year, 1.1% in 2026, and 1.4% in 2027, although political instability in countries like France and Spain may cloud these prospects. European Markets Await Opening: Major European stock exchanges are expected to open slightly higher on Thursday ahead of the European Central Bank's monetary policy decision and important economic data from the United States. Futures indicate a rise of 0.12% for the CAC 40 in Paris, 0.08% for the DAX in Frankfurt, 0.26% for the FTSE in London, and 0.2% for the Stoxx 600.