Kazakh central bank keeps refi rate unchanged

ALMATY, July 1 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's central bank said on Thursday it had decided to keep its key refinancing rate unchanged at 7.0 percent.

The Central Asian state reduced interest rates in 2009 as its economy briefly slipped into recession but has signalled it may hike the refinancing rate to 8.0 percent this year if oil prices stay high. Keywords: KAZAKHSTAN RATE/ (Almaty Bureau, [e-mail], [phone]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.