The European Central Bank (ECB) left its main refinancing rate unchanged at 0.00 percent on Thursday, as widely expected.

Its interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility were also kept unchanged at 0.25% and -0.40% respectively.

In its policy statement, the ECB said that its key interest rates are expected to remain at their present or lower levels at least through the first half of 2020. It also added that its Governing Council stood ready to adjust all of its instruments, as appropriate, to ensure that inflation moves towards its aim in a sustained manner. In this context, the Governing Council also tasked the relevant Eurosystem Committees with examining options, including ways to reinforce its forward guidance on policy rates, mitigating measures, such as the design of a tiered system for reserve remuneration, and options for the size and composition of potential new net asset purchases, the statement said.