Mexican central bank seen pushing up key rate to record level

MEXICO CITY, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Mexico's central bank is expected to hike the benchmark interest rate to a new historic level of 8.5% next week, hoping to contain rising inflation while the economy shows better-than-expected growth, a Reuters poll revealed on Thursday.

All 13 analysts polled expect Banxico, as the central bank is known, to hike its benchmark rate by three-quarters of a percentage point when the monetary authority announces its decision next week.

This would be Banxico's second 75-basis-point hike this year, and mirrors the most . . .