Chile cenbank holds key rate steady for 10th month

SANTIAGO May 13 (Reuters) - Chile's central bank held its benchmark interest rate CLINTR=ECI steady for a 10th month in a row at 0.50 percent on Thursday, as expected, but said the time to start normalizing monetary policy was drawing near.

The bank is widely seen starting to raise rates from their "minimum" level as soon as June or July. It is lagging both Brazil and Peru, which have both already moved to raise rates. (Reporting by Santiago Newsroom; Editing by Leslie Adler)