IMF says Swiss should not raise rates too fast

ZURICH, March 23 (Reuters) - Switzerland should not raise interest rates too quickly since substantial uncertainties remained, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

"Any exit from expansionary policies should be gradual," the IMF said in a statement on the Swiss finance ministry's website. "Interest rate should not be raised too early or without regard to a strengthening in the currency."

"While normalization of monetary policy will imply an exit from foreign exchange interventions, and a rise of interest rates, the tightening of monetary and financial conditions should remain cautious," it said.

The IMF said it expects economic growth of about 1.5 percent for Switzerland in 2010-2011, in line with the central bank's own forecast.