Copenhagen - Denmark's central bank increased the lending rate by 0.50 percentage points to 5.5 per cent Friday in a move to "support the Danish krone," the bank said.

The rise in the lending rate and the rate of interest for certificates and deposits was effective Friday.

The central bank said the discount rate and the current account rate were to remain unchanged at 4.5 per cent.

Denmark is a member of the European Union, but not a member of the eurozone. (dpa)