SANTIAGO, July 15 (Reuters) - Chile's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.5% on Wednesday as per market expectations as the country continues to suffer the economic drag associated with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The world's No. 1 copper producer has kept its interest rate steady since successive cuts up until late March, when it warned of a "severe" economic contraction as a result of the virus spread.

(Reporting by Aislinn Laing; Editing by Sandra Maler)

((Aislinn.Laing@thomsonreuters.com; +56 223704250;))

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