Russia's central bank kept borrowing costs at a two-decade high of 21 percent on Friday to combat rampant inflation, despite banks and businesses warning the economy was headed for a slowdown. In a statement announcing the rate decision, Russia's central bank acknowledged lending activity was "subdued" but that inflation, running above 10 percent, was still too high.

Russia's central bank kept borrowing costs at a two-decade high of 21 percent on Friday to combat rampant inflation, despite banks and businesses warning the economy was headed for a slowdown. In a statement announcing the rate decision, Russia's central bank acknowledged lending activity was "subdued" but that inflation, running above 10 percent, was still too high.