KONTAN.CO.ID - SHANGHAI. China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged for the fourth consecutive month on Tuesday, matching expectations, but markets increasingly see further monetary easing to prop up a slowing economy.

The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was kept at 3.65%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 4.30%.

In a poll of 27 market watchers, 17 or 63% of participants predicted no change to either rate, but expectations for monetary easing are rising.