Roundup: S. Korea freezes policy rate at 3.5 pct for 9th time

SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's central bank on Thursday froze its policy rate for the ninth successive time on the back of lingering uncertainties over inflation and household debts.

Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Rhee Chang-yong and other monetary policymakers decided to leave the benchmark seven-day repurchase rate unchanged at 3.50 percent.

It was in line with market expectations. According to