ECB holds rates while policy package takes effect

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank left interest rates on hold on Thursday, pausing to assess the impact of back-to-back cuts and a slew of other measures it unleashed late last year that are showing some signs of helping fight the euro zone debt crisis. The ECB, holding its first policy meeting of this year, held its benchmark rate at 1.0 percent, matching the lowest level ever. The decision was in line with market expectations. Financial markets showed little reaction. The euro and benchmark German bund futures were both unmoved by the decision. ...