Virus-hit European economy likely to get stimulus shot

The European Central Bank is expected to unleash a half-trillion euros ($600 billion) or more in stimulus on Thursday to support businesses, workers and governments through the winter wave of the coronavirus.

Bank President Christine Lagarde has given unusually clear signals that action is coming, saying there was "little doubt" the bank's 25-member governing council would use the meeting to "recalibrate" its support for the economy of the 19 European Union countries that use the euro.

Analysts think the central bank will boost its current 1.35 trillion-euro ($1.64 trillion) pandemic emergency bond purchase program by 500 billion euros or more, and extend it from its current earliest end date of mid-2021 to the end of 2021 or mid-2022.

The monetary authority for the eurozone could also add more ultra-cheap, long-term loans to banks, the chief source of ready...