(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 17 apr - The decision by the European Central Bank's Governing Council to cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points was "unanimous," according the bank's president Christine Lagarde.

There was a "very strong rally" by all members of the Governing Council to cut rates by 0.25 percentage points, she said, adding that "some options were debated." She noted that "no argument" was put forward for a 0.50 percentage point cut.

Lagarde added that the central bank has to be agile and "more than ever" has to be data dependent due to the uncertain geopolitical situation.

The Governing Council decided to lower the three key ECB interest rates by 0.25 percentage points.

Accordingly, the interest rates on the deposit facility, the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility will be decreased to 2.25%, 2.40% and 2.65% respectively,.

with effect from April 23.

(RADIOCOR) 17-04-25 15:21:39 (0517) 5 NNNN