WASHINGTON, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - The Federal Reserve, in a widely predicted move, kept its main interest rate unchanged at 2.0 percent Tuesday citing concerns about sputtering economic growth and inflationary pressures.

WASHINGTON, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Federal Reserve governors met Tuesday to mull interest rates and the health of the US economy with most economists predicting the Fed will keep rates on hold at 2.0 percent for a second straight time.

The central bank is due to announce its rate decision around 1815 GMT.

WASHINGTON, August 3, 2008 (AFP) - A powerful US central bank panel, led by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, is widely expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged in the coming week amid growing economic uncertainty.

FRANKFURT, August 3, 2008 (AFP) - The European Central Bank holds an exceptional meeting this month amid signs of persistent market turmoil, but analysts expect interest rates to stay on hold even though the eurozone might be stumbling toward recession.

MUMBAI, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - India's central bank Tuesday raised its key short-term lending rate by half-a-percentage point in an aggressive bid to tame inflation riding at a 13-year high, pushing shares down sharply.

MUMBAI, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - India's central bank Tuesday raised its key short-term lending rate by half-a-percentage point in an aggressive new bid to tame inflation riding at a 13-year high of close to 12 percent.

JERUSALEM, July 28, 2008 (AFP) - The Bank of Israel raised its base interest rate by a quarter point on Monday to four percent, it said in a statement.

The bank said its governor, Stanley Fischer, took the decision after price rises took the annual inflation rate to five percent, spurred by increases in the prices of fuel and raw materials.

MUMBAI, July 28, 2008 (AFP) - India's central bank is expected to hike interest rates at its upcoming policy meeting as it battles to curb inflation hovering at a 13-year-high of nearly 12 percent, economists said Monday.

SAO PAULO, July 24, 2008 (AFP) - Brazil's central bank hiked its reference interest rate Wednesday 0.75 percent to 13 percent, amid concerns over accelerating inflation in Latin America's biggest economy.

It was the third and biggest rate hike this year, with the previous two increases of half a point each.

SAO PAULO, July 23, 2008 (AFP) - Brazil's central bank was expected to hike its reference interest rate Wednesday amid signs of accelerating inflation in Latin America's biggest economy.