Global risks still battering euro-area economy: Draghi

Frankfurt

EUROPEAN Central Bank president Mario Draghi warned that the euro-area economy faces agglomerating risks including Brexit and the danger that trade protectionism could hurt confidence.

"The risks surrounding the euro area growth outlook remain tilted to the downside, on account of the persistence of uncertainties related to geopolitical factors, the threat of protectionism and vulnerabilities in emerging markets," said Mr Draghi in Frankfurt.

He added that recent figures confirm a "slowing growth momentum" as global issues dent sentiment. He said that the ECB will consider whether it needs to mitigate any of the side-effects from its negative interest rates. He was speaking after the institution kept its key rates unchanged wit…