1.   But will the banks not then lower their interest rates, thus encouraging people to borrow?

2.   If banks lower the interest rates they charge to borrowers, they must also lower the rate they pay to depositors.

3.   Also, banks are lowering monthly service charges as Argentine and foreign banks step up the competition within the industry.

4.   As demand for these securities grew, banks quickly lowered the yield on later sales.

5.   As a result, investors have stopped dumping currency, allowing banks to lower the interest rates that had been raised sky-high to keep currency in the country.

6.   Despite the move Wednesday, many analysts do not expect the bank to lower either its discount rate or its Lombard rate.

7.   It is expected that these two banks will lower lending rates and raise deposit rates to consolidate their market share in Colombia.

8.   Lower official rates allow private banks to lower their deposit and lending rates to clients.