European Central Bank Maintains Interest Rates Amid Positive Inflation Outlook

The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to keep interest rates steady at 2% for the fifth consecutive meeting, aligning with market expectations. According to Ming Pao, the ECB did not provide any forward guidance on future rate changes. ECB President Christine Lagarde noted that the inflation situation is favorable and emphasized that future decisions will be data-dependent. In related economic news, Germany's factory orders for December increased by 7.8% month-on-month, surpassing expectations.