The euro-area economy contracted the most in almost four years in the fourth quarter as trade and investment declined. Gross domestic product in the 17-nation euro area fell 0.6% from the third quarter, the European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg said on Wednesday, confirming an initial estimate published on February 14. In the year, the economy shrank 0.9%.The European Central Bank will maintain its benchmark interest rate at 0.75% on Thursday with the euro area mired in a recession and political instability in Italy after an inconclusive election, according to the median of 61 economists' estimates in a Bloomberg survey. The ECB will also update its economic forecasts.

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