The European Central Bank has left its main interest rate unchanged at a record low 1%.
The bank has now left rates alone for two meetings in a row while it waits to see whether the euro zone economy needs more help from further cuts. Many economists predict at least a mild recession in the euro area.
The ECB has meanwhile extended emergency loans to banks to strengthen the financial sector against the debt crisis.
ECB president Mario Draghi told reporters that the ECB did not discuss any future change in interest rates today.
He said the euro zone's economic performance was "very weak" in the final quarter of last year, but there were signs of stabilisation early this year.
The ECB chief also said stress in financial markets had diminished after ECB measures, including the provision of three-year loans to banks. He said this measure had averted a credit crunch in the euro zone.
He said the impact of the ECB's measures may not have been fully felt yet, and the bank would be watching bank lending figures closely in the coming months.
Mr Draghi also said that national central banks were being given more leeway on the type of collateral they would accept from banks in return for loans. He admitted that the bank was taking a risk, but that this risk was being "very well managed", and the aim was to finance the real economy, particularly small businesses.
He said the discussion on the issue today was not unanimous, but not contentious.
