April 17 - The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the seventh time in a year on Thursday in hopes of boosting the already struggling eurozone economy, which is set to be hit hard by US tariffs. The ECB has been lowering borrowing costs as price pressures have subsided following the pandemic, while recent trade-related turmoil in global markets has added to the case for further easing. "Increased uncertainty could reduce household and business confidence, and the adverse and volatile market response to trade tensions could have a tightening effect on funding conditions," the ECB said. "These factors could further weigh on the economic outlook for the eurozone." But ECB President Christine Lagarde is unlikely to provide many clues about the future, instead sticking to her position that the uncertainty is still too great for the ECB to make any commitments and will decide its next move once the data is available.