Thai central bank holds key rate at record low, as expected

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's central bank left its key interest rate steady for a 13th straight meeting on Wednesday as it sought to maintain support for the pandemic-hit economy, while it slightly upgraded its growth outlook for this year.

The Bank of Thailand's (BOT) monetary policy committee unanimously voted to hold the one-day repurchase rate at a record low of 0.50% at its final review of the year.

All 22 economists in a Reuters poll had expected the BOT to stay on hold this week.

The BOT slightly raised its 2021 economic growth forecast to 0.9% versus the 0.7% projected in September. It slightly decreased its 2022 growth estimate to 3.4% from 3.9% previously.

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon and Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa)