Lagarde comments at ECB press conference

FRANKFURT, June 11 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank raised interest rates for the first time in nearly three years on Thursday, by a quarter point to 2.25%, to try and curb inflation before a surge in energy costs triggered by the Iran war spreads across the euro zone economy.

Following are highlights of ECB President Christine Lagarde's comments at a news conference after the policy meeting.

LABOUR DEMAND COOLS

"Labour demand has cooled further, and firms and households expect the labour market to weaken."

SURVEYS POINT TO SLOWDOWN

"The war in the Middle East is weighing on activity, and surveys are pointing to a slowdown, especially in services."

(Reporting by Reuters Global News Desk)