The Danish central bank announced Thursday it will raise its discount rate and the interest rate by 0.25 per cent to 2.25 per cent. The Nationalbank's lending rate was increased by 0.25 per cent to 2.40 per cent. The increases take effect as of December 2, and were the first rate hikes in Denmark for five years. European Union member Denmark has not introduced the joint European currency, the euro. The Danish hikes were announced after the European Central Bank (ECB) raised its interest rates by 0.25 per cent to 2.25 per cent. --SP 2356 Local Time 2056 GMT
