The European Central Bank raised its main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1.50 percent today,  the second rate rise since April.

The ECB raised another reference rate -- the marginal lending rate -- to 2.25 percent, and its overnight deposit rate to 0.75 percent.

Maltese interest rates were not raised in the wake of the first rate rise in April - although the local banks had also not let their rates fall in the same manner as the ECB.

Meanwhile the Bank of England said it was keeping its interest rates on hold at a record low 0.50 percent for the 28th month in a row.