China cuts rates, lowers reserve ratioBy Xin Zhiming (China Daily) Updated: 2008-09-16 07:02 China's central bank Monday cut the cost of bank loans, the first time since 2002, and lowered the proportion of money lenders must have as reserves, the first such move in nine years, to keep the economy from sliding further. The benchmark lending rate will be lowered by 0.27 percentage point to 7.20 percent from Tuesday. However, benchmark deposit rates remain unchanged with the one-year rate to be kept at 4.14 percent, a proof that the central bankers are keeping an eye on inflation.