CNBC: Europe under pressure as earnings disappoint; ECB holds rates
European markets remained in negative territory on Thursday, after the European Central Bank (ECB) held its key interest rates unchanged, and disappointing earnings capped gains.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was off 0.5 percent, paring some losses as the ECB press conference began. Sectors were mostly lower.
London FTSE 100 slipped 0.7 percent, while France's CAC 40 was off 0.4 percent. Germany's DAX reversed gains, falling 0.2 percent.
The ECB chose to hold interest rates steady, keeping its main refinancing rate unchanged at 0.0 percent; the marginal lending rate unchanged at 0.25 percent and the deposit facility rate unchanged at -0.4 percent.
In the decision, the ECB announced it had started to expand their monthly purchases to 80 billion euros, and that they are focusing on the implementation of the non-standard measures decided at the last monetary policy meeting on March 10.
Investors will now be digesting the latest comments coming from the central bank's press conference.
The euro posted strong gains against the U.S. dollar, following the ECB decision, however pared sharp gains, currently trading around $1.134. Banks continued to outperform other sectors, up over 1.5 percent.
