Colombia's central bank held the benchmark interest rate at 9.50% on Friday, surprising the market, which expected policymakers to vote for a second consecutive 25 basis point cut. The decision was backed by five members of the seven-member board.

The head of the Czech National Bank wants to plough billions of euros’ worth of the country’s reserves into bitcoin, a groundbreaking move that could make it the first western central bank known to hold crypto assets.