Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday that the economic outlook for the euro zone is subject to "particularly high uncertainty and intensified downside risks."

LONDON (MarketWatch)
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday that the economic outlook for the euro zone is subject to "particularly high uncertainty and intensified downside risks." Speaking in Berlin at his last news conference as ECB chief, Trichet also said Thursday's decisions to keep interest rates on hold and to implement non-standard measures were taken by consensus among the members of the governing council.
Trichet also said policy makers discussed the pros and cons of lowering interest rates, but in the end decided to keep them on hold. He emphasized that the non-standard measures were of "extreme importance."
 Risks to the medium-term outlook for price developments are broadly balanced, Trichet also noted.