The European Central Bank cut interest rates as expected on Thursday and kept all options on the table for its next meetings even as the case grows for a summer pause in its year-long easing cycle. Following are highlights of ECB President Christine Lagarde's comments at a news conference after the policy meeting.

Previewing the ECB’s April meeting, TD Securities analysts said: “We expect a 25 bps cut, with markets and consensus converging on the same. Projections are likely to be lowered for growth and inflation due to global trade policy developments since March.”