The European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged, a decision framed as a sign of confidence that inflation is moving under control and toward its target. The holding pattern comes as markets weigh the potential economic fallout from conflict in the Middle East, including implications for energy prices, financial stability, and the path of future monetary policy. The development matters because a pause in rates can reinforce expectations that the tightening cycle is nearing or at its end, shaping borrowing costs and broader risk sentiment.