The European Central Bank is set to keep interest rates and bond-buying policy unchanged on Thursday. But the ECB will likely lay the groundwork for more easing in December. These are the expectations before the policy meeting this evening.

Analysts salso say ECB President Mario Draghi will likely emphasize the continued need for monetary stimulus, and reinforce expectations for an extension of the ECB's 80-billion-euro-per-month asset buys.

The ECB has provided unprecedented stimulus for years with sub-zero rates, free loans to banks and over a trillion euros in bond purchases to reignite growth and lift inflation.