chinas central bank on thursday held the benchmark lending rates unchanged as expected as the yuan continues to face increasing downward pressure the peoples bank of china kept the oneyear loan prime rate at 365 and the fiveyear rate at 43 both unchanged from last month according to a statement published on its website the move to hold the benchmark rates had been expected by the market after the central bank kept its key policy rates steady earlier this week the depreciation of the yuan in recent months pressured by the strength of the us dollar may have slowed the pbocs pace to ease its monetary stance some economists say chinas central bank last cut the benchmark interest rates in august