Frankfurt — The European Central Bank (ECB) dropped a long-standing pledge on Thursday to increase bond buys if needed, taking another small step in weaning the eurozone economy off protracted stimulus. Keeping its broader policy unchanged, the ECB said it could still extend its €2.55-trillion bond purchase scheme beyond September if needed but omitted a reference to bigger purchases, a signal that it remains on track to end a three-year-old stimulus scheme before the end of 2018. Having revived eurozone growth with lavish stimulus, the ECB has been dialling back support in tiny increments, fearing any big change could unravel its work and force an embarrassing and economically damaging policy reversal. "The net asset purchases, at the current monthly pace of €30bn, are intended to run until the end of September 2018, or beyond, if necessary, and in any case until the governing council sees a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation consistent with its inflation aim, the ECB sa...
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