Egypt c.bank keeps rates steady, as expected

The bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept its key lending rate unchanged at 9.75 percent and the deposit rate at 8.25 percent after its regular meeting on Thursday, it said on its website.

All eight economists polled by Reuters this week had predicted the MPC would change the rates, which it has not altered since September 2009.

Analysts say the central bank is reluctant to risk pushing up the cost of borrowing while the economy remains unsteady.