MNI BRIEF: ECB Target Symmetric, Some Risks Abate - Lagarde

The European Central Bank will abide by its symmetrical inflation target, while some downside risks to growth have abated, ECB President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday, pointing to progress in trade talks involving the EU and China, the U.S. and China, and a peace-fire in Gaza.

"From a monetary policy point of view we are in a good place," she said, "With growth of 0.2% for Q3, which is a tad more than what was expected by the consensus…. I would not complain too much about growth." (See MNI INTERVIEW: ECB's Wunsch Sees Less Chance Of Another Cut)

The European Central Bank kept its three key interest rates unchanged earlier on Thursday, leaving the benchmark deposit rate at 2.0%.