At 6:00 pm (Lisbon time), the euro was trading at 1.0776 dollars, while on Thursday, at the same time, it was trading at 1.0777 dollars. The euro also fell against the pound, but recovered against the yen. The ECB set the euro's reference rate at 1.0779 dollars. In today's session, the euro fluctuated between 1.0789 and 1.0762 dollars. The decision to keep eurozone interest rates at 4.5% was made "by broad consensus" of the ECB, although "some members felt sufficiently confident" to lower them, due to the risk of a greater-than-desired effect on the economy. At the monetary policy meeting on April 10 and 11, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to keep interest rates at 4.5% for the fifth consecutive time, the credit facility - which lends to banks overnight - at 4.75% and the deposit facility - which remunerates excess reserves overnight - at 4%. A decision which, according to the minutes of the meeting published today by the institution, was made "by broad consensus", after "a large majority of members" agreed with the proposal of the ECB's chief economist, Philip R. Lane. However, some members were "sufficiently convinced" that inflation, core inflation and the transmission of monetary policy "warranted a reduction in key rates" at the meeting. Currencies...............today..............Thursday Euro/dollar............1,0776.................1,0777 Euro/pound............0,85972...............0,86100 Euro/yen.............167,92.................167,67 Dollar/yen............155,83.................155,57 See Also: Joana Diniz sells car for 80 thousand euros and is accused of ostentation (Portuguese version)