ECB launches long-awaited QE gambit

BERLIN: In what may be its best and last chance to stimulate growth and ward off deflation across the eurozone, the European Central Bank (ECB) on Monday will launch its long-awaited 1.1 trillion euro ($1.2 trillion) quantitative easing program.

The kickoff was announced Thursday by ECB President Mario Draghi, who confirmed the eurozone central bank will begin its program of buying around 60 billion euros of public and private bonds each month starting March 9—a policy it will apply until at least September 2016.