On May 2 the ECB has decreased the interest rate on the main refinancing operations of the Eurosystem by 25 basis points, to 0.50%, starting from the operation to be settled on 8 May 2013. The interest rate on the marginal lending facility will also be decreased by 50 basis points, to 1.00%....

To fight deflationary pressures in the euro area, the ECB has been conducting exceptional policies, such as negative interest rates on excess reserves of banks on their accounts at the Eurosystem, or massive purchases of assets, essentially public bonds. The interest rate on the main refinancing...