Was expected. While economic growth in the Eurogroup countries remains low, the European Central Bank (ECB) kept its key interest rate Thursday at 1%, its lowest level for the 14th consecutive month.

Eurozone growth moderate and uneven in 2010

This choice is further agreed that European fears about debt had reappeared in recent weeks. "A change of course is not expected until at least the first half of 2011. As long as fiscal policy is restrictive and low growth, monetary policy needs to be expansionary so accommodating, "said Nicolas Bouzou, economist and founder of Aster. He added: "Higher interest rates would be justified if the growth in the euro area was between 2% and 2.5%. It is still far away. "

A trend confirmed by the ECB president himself Thursday during a news conference. It forecasts economic growth still modest and uneven in the euro zone in 2010.

Previously, the Bank of England had done the same, maintaining its rate at 0.5%.

The Fed could raise rates before the end of the year

The situation in the United States could change, according to Nicolas Bouzou. "The Fed is expected to increase by 50 basis points more than its interest rates before the end of the year." Therefore, the ECB does she not have him engage the right? "No, because the situation is different overseas. While the job market is still fragile but current levels of growth in the U.S. require a bit of back interest rates to prevent inflation from too much to leave again the rise, "he says.He considers, however, that higher interest rates the Fed would be beneficial for Europe. "It would accentuate the depreciation of the euro and thus encourage European exports," says the economist.