ECB cuts key rate, to restart bond purchases

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank approved a fresh stimulus package as expected on Thursday, cutting interest rates and approving a new round of bond purchases to prop up euro zone growth and halt a worrisome drop in inflation expectations. The ECB cut its deposit rate to a record low -0.5% from -0.4% and will restart bond purchases of 20 billion euros a month from November, it said in a statement. With inflation falling, Germany skirting a recession and a global trade war..