China stands pat on benchmark rate, signals brief pause in easing efforts

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China held its benchmark lending rate steady on Wednesday, though analysts believe the widely expected decision signals just a brief pause in the central bank's efforts to support an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) remained at 3.85% from last month's fixing, while the five-year LPR was also kept at 4.65%.A Reuters survey of traders and analysts showed more than 70% of them expected China would stand pat on the benchmark..