ANKARA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's central bank kept its policy interest rate unchanged at 37 percent on Thursday, saying inflation pressures showed little change in February.

A man walks past the logo of Türkiye's central bank in Ankara, Türkiye, on Dec. 26, 2024. (File photo: Xinhua)

"The underlying trend of inflation was essentially flat in February," the bank's Monetary Policy Committee said in a statement.

The committee said global risk appetite had weakened amid geopolitical tensions, while energy prices had risen, increasing uncertainty.

"To contain the risks posed by these factors to the inflation outlook, decisions supporting tight monetary policy have been enacted alongside coordinated fiscal measures," the statement said.

The bank said the tight policy stance would remain in place until price stability is achieved, adding that it would support disinflation through demand, exchange-rate and expectations channels.

The central bank also left its overnight lending rate unchanged at 40 percent and its overnight borrowing rate at 35.5 percent.

The rate decision comes amid market volatility linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East. On Jan. 22, the central bank cut its key repo rate to 37 percent from 38 percent, the fifth rate reduction since last summer.