Philippine central bank keeps interest rates steady at 6.50%

A security guard standing beside a logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) posted at the main gate in Manila, Philippines. — Reuters

MANILA: The Philippine central bank kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 6.50% for a fourth straight meeting on Monday, as expected, even as inflation further quickened in March.

All 21 economists in a Reuters poll had expected the BSP to keep its target reverse repurchase rate unchanged.