**The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept the eurozone interest rate at its record low of 1% for the 10th month in a row, as expected.**Interest rates have been kept low in an attempt to stimulate growth in the eurozone.
Europe’s return to growth is seen as fragile, with particular concerns about Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Portugal.
And there are continuing concerns over Greece’s ability to tackle its debt despite new austerity plans.
Earlier on Thursday, the Bank of England kept the UK’s key interest rate on hold at 0.5%, for the 12th month in a row.
Eurozone interest rates have been at 1% since May last year.
Separately, Eurostat confirmed its initial estimate that the eurozone and the EU27 economic area both grew by 0.1% in the final quarter of 2009.