The European Central Bank kept key interest rates at record lows and left its mass bond-buying programme unchanged Thursday, a spokesman said, confirming expectations the bank would play for time as markets brace for an exit from the era of cheap money.

As expected, the Frankfurt institution kept its main refinancing rate at 0.0 percent, the rate on the marginal lending facility at 0.25 percent, and on deposits at -0.4 percent, meaning banks pay to park money with the ECB.