Moldova central bank raises key interest rate to 12.5%

CHISINAU - The Moldovan central bank said on Tuesday it had raised its key interest rate to 12.5% from 10.5%, the fourth successive hike intended to restrain persistent inflation.

Moldova's inflation jumped to 18.52% in February year-on-year from 16.56% in January, far from the central bank's target

of 5%.

In February, the bank raised the rate to 10.5% from 8.5%.