Turkey's central bank held its policy rate steady at 50% on Thursday, as expected, and said it remained attentive to inflation risks, while analysts said its comments opened the way for a possible rate cut next month.

South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago’s repeated emphasis of uncertainty is expected to translate, at most, into only a handful of additional interest-rate cuts next year.

The bank’s policy committee left the benchmark interest rate at 50%.

The Turkish central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for an eighth month, but implied slowing inflation could soon justify a cut.

The Central Bank of Turkey held the key interest rate at 50% at its November meeting, for the eighth month in a row. However, investors are becoming more hopeful that a rate cut may be around the corner,