South Africa's policy rate on hold as Iran war seen pushing up inflation

South Africa's central bank maintained its main lending rate at 6.75% on Thursday, saying caution was needed as higher energy prices triggered by the US-Israel war against Iran would push up inflation. Economists polled by Reuters had expected no change in the repo rate, as the Middle East conflict has forced central banks around the world to revise their forecasts and reconsider the path for interest rates.