Chile’s central bank unexpectedly cut the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 2.5% on Friday as it braced for a sharper economic slowdown because of the U.S.-China trade dispute. The bank, citing impacts from global trade tensions, slashed its view for Chile’s 2019 economic growth to 2.75-3.5%, from 3-4% just two months ago, it said in a statement. Chile is the world’s top producer of copper, a commodity whose demand is driven heavily by China. A central bank poll of traders had forecast a rate hold in the short-term. The bank said its decision to cut the interest rate was taken unanimously by ... (full story)