French inflation was stable at the beginning of the year, figures showed Friday, a day after the European Central Bank again lowered its key interest rates amid a eurozone economy going nowhere fast.

Euro zone manufacturers are more worried about cheap imports from China than tariffs from the United States, a European Central Bank survey showed on Friday. Only half of the manufacturers contacted by the ECB in a regular poll thought their business in the euro area would be affected by U.

Several members of the ECB’s Governing Council have already voiced such fears, stressing that the ECB should cut rates to a “neutral” level as quickly as possible. Deutsche Bank’s Mark Wall said in e-mailed comments that rates may “quite probably” end up below neutral by year-end.

European Central Bank policymakers are likely breathing a sigh of relief that the new U.S. administration did not impose the blanket trade tariffs some had feared and a rate cut next week now seems like a done deal.

The ECB is expected to cut rates by 25bps to 2.75% on Thursday as inflation nears 2% and growth remains weak. Analysts see further cuts in 2025, but US trade tariffs could add uncertainty.

The Czech National Bank is considering adding bitcoin to its reserves. It should, regardless of what the European Central Bank thinks about that.

In his first week as US President, Donald Trump’s crypto policies reportedly drew the attention of a European Central Bank official, encouraging the development of a digital euro.

Following is the text of European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde's statement after the bank's policy meeting on Thursday:

- 08:15 (EU) ECB Interest Rate Decision: Expected to cut Key Rates by 25bps; Expected to cut Deposit Rate by 25bps to 2.75%; Expected to cut Main 7-Day Refinancing Rate by 25bps to 2.90%; Expected to cut Marginal Lending Facility by 25bps to 3.15%.

Despite US President Donald Trump's sabre-rattling, the European Central Bank is set to press on with interest rate cuts Thursday as officials increasingly voice confidence that the fight against inflation is on track.

Investors eye ECB rate decision and press conference for clues on future cuts. Will a dovish stance propel the DAX higher?