Data this week showed Germany barely escaped a recession inthe second half of 2018 and European Central Bank chief MarioDraghi warned on Tuesday the euro zone economy was weaker thananticipated. "The dimmer outlook was acknowledged by outgoing ECBPresident Mario Draghi, a cautious tone that gave added tractionto the euro's slide from three-month highs," said Joe Manimbo,senior market analyst at Western Union. With inflation showing no sign of rising abovethe 2 percent target, and mounting worries about trade policyand slowing global growth, Powell has said the central bank willtake a "patient" approach to rate hikes this year.