Sweden's central bank Thursday raised the country's key interest rate by 0.25 per cent to 4.75 per cent in what bank chief Stefan Ingves said was a move to curb inflation.
Sweden is experiencing an inflation rate of 4.4 per cent, its highest for 15 years. The aim is to get this down to 2 per cent at most, Ingves said, adding that there would be no further interest rate increase this year. Sweden is an EU country but not in the euro zone.

German exports plunged in November to record the biggest fall in nearly two decades, data released Thursday showed, as the deepening world economic downturn hits Europe's biggest economy.
When the Spirit rover landed on Mars five years ago, no one expected it or its sister rover Opportunity to make it to their first birthdays, let alone their fifth.
The San Antonio Spurs turned up their trademark defense down the stretch to turn back another opponent.
US singer and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, 27, dominated the nominations for the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
After the Taipei Zoo received two giant pandas from China, another Taiwan zoo said Friday it is seeking to receive a pair of pandas from China.