Bratislava - Slovakia's central bank left interest rates steady Tuesday, staying in line with euro rates before switching to the joint currency on January 1.

Inflation was stable enough to allow keeping the benchmark two- week repo rate at 4.25 per cent, its level since April 2007, the Slovakian National Bank said after a regular policy-making meeting.

The European Central Bank lowered its key rate to 4.25 per cent in July.

Slovakia is expected to follow the ECB's rate decision until the fast-growing former communist nation joins the eurozone.

Slovakia will be the 16th country to adopt the euro and the first from the former Soviet bloc.

Slovenia, once part of the old communist Yugoslavia, became the first Eastern European nation to join the euro in 2007. (dpa)