1042 GMT - The European Central Bank will maintain a focus on the eurozone's lacklustre economic progress, keeping rate cuts ahead very likely, ING economist Bert Colijn says. Activity in the currency area's private sector rebounded a little at the start of the year, but growth is likely to remain sluggish, surveys set out Friday suggest. There are some signs that price pressures are growing again, but the bank's policymakers look comfortable with a cut to interest rates next week and more at subsequent meetings of the governing council, Colijn tells clients in a note.(joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 24, 2025 05:42 ET (10:42 GMT)

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