Central bank maintains rate

BOTSWANA’S central bank left its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 6 percent yesterday, saying the mediumterm outlook for inflation and domestic growth were within its targets. “The current state of the economy… including the inflation forecast suggest that the prevailing monetary policy stance is consistent with maintaining inflation within the bank's medium-term objective range of 3 percent to 6 percent,” the Bank of Botswana said in a statement. Botswana’s consumer inflation quickened to 3.1 percent year on year in October from 2.9 percent in September. – Reuters