Colombia’s central bank limited its ninth consecutive interest rate increase to a quarter point after inflation unexpectedly eased and evidence grows that the economy is cooling faster than forecast. Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas, who chairs the bank’s policy meetings, said the phase of monetary tightening is probably near its end. The seven-member board voted to raise borrowing costs to 7.25 percent, according to the bank’s statement. The decision, which was not unanimous, was forecast by 23 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, with three predicting a half-point increase and six predicting no change. “As things ... (full story)