The European Central Bank left its policy unchanged. In the accompanying short statement, they maintained their usual phrase about QE: it will continue through 2017 or beyond if necessary. The main lending rate remains at 0% and the deposit rate at -0.40%. No changes were expected to rates.

EUR/USD holds onto the levels it climbed to earlier, around 1.1970-1.1980.

The ECB was expected to make an announcement, perhaps at the beginning of the end of its bond-buying scheme. The Bank currently purchases 60 billion euros worth of bonds every month. The plan is expected to expire in December. Speculation has been rife about what’s next.

The mere notification that the ECB will provide news at 11:45 GMT sent EUR/USD higher. The pair traded just above support at 1.1910 and shot up to 1.1980 ahead of the planned decision.

ECB President Mario Draghi will hold his regular press conference at 12:30 GMT. A lot of questions will be asked.

Here is the preliminary move on the chart:

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