ECB's Mersch: Euro-zone slowdown broadly in line with expectations

ECB governing council member Yves Mersch was out with some comments in the last hour, trying to offset Mario Draghi's overnight dovish comments, and said that the recent slowdown in the region’s economic activity was broadly in line with expectations. 

Economic fundamentals remain unchanged and a slowdown does not mean that the economy is falling into recession, Mersch added further.