HIGHLIGHTS-Draghi comments at ECB press conference - Reuters News

The European Central Bank left its benchmark refinancing rate unchanged at 0.00 percent, as expected, on Thursday. President Mario Draghi also said the ECB would continue its monthly asset purchases at the current rate, 60 million euros a month, until December 2017 or beyond, if necessary. Following are highlights of ECB President Mario Draghi's comments at a post-policy meeting press conference. POLICY HELPING INFLATION CONVERGENCE PROCESS Our monetary policy measures have continued to secure the very supportive financing conditions that are necessary to make continuous progress towards a sustained convergence of inflation rates to levels below but close to 2 percent over the medium-term.

HEADLINE INFLATION Headline inflation is likely to remain around current levels in the coming months. GROWTH RISKS The risks to the growth outlook are broadly balanced.

NO STRONGER INFLATION DYNAMIC While the ongoing economic expansion provides confidence that inflation will gradually head toward levels in line with our inflation aim, it has yet to translate into stronger inflation dynamics.

UNDERLYING INFLATION Headline inflation is dampened by the weakness in energy prices. Moreover, measures of underlying inflation remain overall at subdued levels.

(Compiled by Larry King)

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