2015.01.0822:06:50UTC+00Euro close to 9-year trough on ECB easing bets

The euro stood close to a nine-year low Friday, on escalating speculations the European Central Bank would launch its quantitative easing.

President Mario Draghi said the ECB’s Governing Council was prepared to employ unconventional measures, if necessary, to stem an extended period of low inflation.

The currency traded at $1.1792, reaching a nine-year low of $1.1754 on Thursday as traders became more convinced the central might begin buying eurozone sovereign debt the soonest time possible this month.

Meanwhile, investors would await US payrolls data due Friday.