Thailand's central bank left its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, as expected, ending a year-long tightening cycle, amid slowing economic growth and below-target inflation.

The Bank of Thailand's (BOT) monetary policy committee voted to hold the one-day repurchase rate at 2.50%, the highest in a decade. It had raised the rate by 200 basis points since August last year to curb inflation.

All 28 economists in a Reuters poll had predicted the BOT would hold the rate on Wednesday, with median forecasts showing no policy change until July 2025 at the earliest. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Satawasin Staporncharnchai and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)