KIEV, Aug. 9 ??“ The National Bank of Ukraine on Tuesday boosted a key interest rate by half a percentage point and decided to take other steps aimed at reducing Ukraine??™s money supply, citing the need to contain inflation.

The action put the discount rate, the rate at which the central bank lends money to commercial banks, at 9.5%, up from 9%, the NBU said. The new rate will come into force on Aug. 10, the bank said.