Brasília, November 20, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) of the Central Bank decided to raise the prime rate (Selic) from 21% to 22% per year. In a note to the press, the Copom informed that the cause of the rise in interest rates was the increase in inflationary expectations for 2003. The rate will remain without the so-called bias, which means that it can only be altered again at the next meeting of the committee, scheduled for December 17-18. (DAS)