The European Central Bank (ECB) has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1% again today. It has been at 1% since November 2011
The ECB’s president, Mario Draghi, has insisted that its various measures to flood financial markets with cheap cash have been an “unquestioned success”.
The ECB met in Barcelona where an 8,000-strong security force was deployed for the meeting and the authorities temporarily reintroduced border controls to prevent the entry of potential trouble-makers. There were no signs of trouble outside the meeting venue, however, where a only a small handful of banner-wielding protesters could be seen.