OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada kept interest rates on hold on Wednesday as expected and suggested the pace of future hikes could be more gradual, pushing the Canadian dollar down to an 18-month low and slashing market expectations of another increase next month. FILE PHOTO: Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz walks to a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 18, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo The central bank, which has lifted rates fives times since July 2017 as...

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada held interest rates steady on Wednesday as expected and said more hikes would be needed to keep inflation on target, boosting speculation it could tighten monetary policy next month. A cyclist rides past the Bank of Canada building, Ontario, Canada, July 11, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie The overnight interest rate remains at 1.50 percent. The central bank, which maintains a 2 percent inflation target, has raised rates four times since July 2017 amid a...