Norway's central bank held its policy interest rate unchanged at a 17-year high of 4.50% on Thursday, as unanimously expected by analysts in a Reuters poll, and maintained plans to start cutting borrowing costs in March.

Norway’s central bank primed investors for its first easing move in March after keeping borrowing costs unchanged this month at a 16-year high. Norges Bank officials held the key deposit rate on Thursday at 4.

Norway’s central bank held its key policy rate at 4.5% and reaffirmed that it will likely begin monetary policy easing in March, but noted concern over potential trade tariffs from the U.S.