Frankfurt, 19/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - At Thursday's meeting in Frankfurt, the Governing Council of the European central Bank (ECB) maintained the leading interest rate at 4.5%, despite the slowdown in inflation in the euro zone and the uncertain development of the American economy. The banking refinancing rate thus remains at the same level at that set on 10 May, date when it was cut by 25 basic points. The deposit facility remains at 3.5% and the marginal lending facility at 5.5%.