By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet Thursday presented significant upward revisions to Eurozone growth forecasts and noted further improvement in money markets, but he nevertheless pledged to maintain the current level of support at least until mid-January 2011.

Although Trichet sounded surprisingly optimistic and emphasized that "we are in a process" of exiting from non-standard operations, the ECB may still postpone for quite some time a second attempt to withdraw the emergency liquidity measures.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet Thursday presented significant upward revisions to Eurozone growth forecasts and noted further improvement in money markets, but he nevertheless pledged to maintain the current level of support at least until mid-January 2011.

Although Trichet sounded surprisingly optimistic and emphasized that "we are in a process" of exiting from non-standard operations, the ECB may still postpone for quite some time a second attempt to withdraw the emergency liquidity measures.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The European Central Bank is likely to announce Thursday that it will carry over generous liquidity provisions at least into early 2011 while keeping interest rates firmly on hold.

Facing fresh headwinds from the global slowdown, President Jean-Claude Trichet will maintain a cautious tone on the overall economic outlook despite an almost certain sizable upward revision to the ECB staff forecast for 2010 GDP.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The European Central Bank is likely to announce Thursday that it will carry over generous liquidity provisions at least into early 2011 while keeping interest rates firmly on hold.

Facing fresh headwinds from the global slowdown, President Jean-Claude Trichet will maintain a cautious tone on the overall economic outlook despite an almost certain sizable upward revision to the ECB staff forecast for 2010 GDP.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet sounded more upbeat about the Eurozone's prospects but stopped short of declaring victory or announcing a second move towards the exit from non-conventional policies.

After running the gauntlet in recent months on the Greece crisis, the ECB's controversial government bond purchases, and bank stress tests, Trichet enjoyed an easy ride during Thursday's press conference. One journalist asked him about his holiday plans.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet sounded more upbeat about the Eurozone's prospects but stopped short of declaring victory or announcing a second move towards the exit from non-conventional policies.

After running the gauntlet in recent months on the Greece crisis, the ECB's controversial government bond purchases, and bank stress tests, Trichet enjoyed an easy ride during Thursday's press conference. One journalist asked him about his holiday plans.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) The ongoing economic recovery and abating financial market tensions should allow European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet to strike a somewhat more optimistic tone during what promises to be an uneventful press conference on Thursday.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet is banking on stress tests and government deficit cutting efforts to allow the ECB to further unwind unconventional support measures.

Amid improving market conditions, the ECB's government bond purchases may be slowing in the weeks ahead, and no additional longer term refinancing operations are considered necessary at the current juncture, Trichet said.