Swedish central bank holds rates at 1.75%

Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, kept its policy rate at 1.75% and increased the probability of a rate hike later this year.

Sweden's ​central bank kept its policy rate unchanged at ‌1.75% as expected on Wednesday and said the probability that the rate will be raised later ‌this year has increased in relation to ‌the assessment in March.

"The Executive Board assesses that it is well-balanced to leave the policy rate unchanged ⁠at ​1.75 per ⁠cent now, but the probability that the rate will ⁠be raised later this year has increased in ​relation to the assessment in March," the ⁠Riksbank said in a statement. All except one of 19 ⁠analysts ​in a Reuters poll had predicted rates to be kept unchanged, but all ⁠but four saw at least one hike this year ⁠or ⁠next.