The European Central Bank cut interest rates on Thursday and kept the door open to further policy easing as concerns over lacklustre economic growth supersede worries about persistent inflation. Following are highlights of ECB President Christine Lagarde's comments at a news conference after the policy meeting.

On Bitcoin, Lagarde’s Czech counterpart Ales Michl yesterday said that his institution will assess whether to hold part of its foreign reserves in Bitcoin. In the US, President Trump has backed the idea of a strategic national Bitcoin reserve.

Against this backdrop, the ECB’s communication in the policy statement and President Lagarde’s comments will hold the key to determining the scope and timing of the next rate cuts as the Bank battles concerns over economic growth and potential tariffs by United States (US) President Donald Trump’s administration.

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Central bank independence is being challenged in parts of the world and greater political influence could undermined banks' ability to keep inflation down, risking economic volatility,