The rise in longer-term borrowing rates is regarded as a spillover from the U.S., where the economic recovery is expected to be faster.
By contrast, the eurozone economy is not expected to recover until mid-2022, held back by a slow vaccine rollout and lower levels of government relief spending compared with the U.S.
ECB President Christine Lagarde told a news conference that the rise in market borrowing rates, โif left unchecked, could translate into a premature tightening of financial conditions for all sectors of the economy.
AdThe bond purchases have the effect of pushing down bond yields, which are used as benchmarks for borrowing across the region.
Lagarde didn't specify an amount for the accelerated bond purchases.