BRASILIA, July 30 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady on Wednesday, pausing an aggressive tightening cycle after seven consecutive hikes as widely expected after signaling last month that it would hold rates for a "very prolonged" period.
The bank's monetary policy committee, known as Copom, kept its benchmark Selic rate at 15.00%, the highest since July 2006. All 35 economists surveyed by Reuters between July 21-25 had forecast the decision.