Sources: European policy makers are ready to cut interest rates if growth is weak

Economy and stock exchange

Two European Central Bank policymakers are open to cutting interest rates again if economic growth weakens for the rest of the year and the strong euro has hurt the currency region, which already has the consequences of a global trade war, two sources said.

The ECB said on Thursday interest rates would remain at current levels until mid-2020, but its president Mario Draghi said interest-rate makers had begun discussing a possible cut, or buying new bonds to stimulate inflation.

But this divergent message seems to have failed to convince some investors, who see it as a very weak commitment to further stimulus, pushing the euro to a 2-1 / 2 year high of $ 1.1347.

But exporters familiar with policy discussions in the central bank said interest rate cuts would be a strong option if the region's economy recedes again after rising 0.4 percent in the first quarter.

"If inflation and growth slow down, the interest rate cut will be justified," said one source, who asked not to be identified because the ECB's discussions were confidential.

A spokesman for the European Central Bank declined to comment.