SANTIAGO, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Chile’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.5% on Monday, in line with expectations, as policymakers continue a push to stimulate the economy of the world’s top copper producing country. Traders and analysts predicted Chile’s rate, its lowest in a decade, would remain unchanged for the next year at least as the country struggles to recover from the coronavirus-induced economic malaise. Chile has kept its interest rate steady following successive cuts through late March, when it warned of a “severe” economic contraction as a result of the pandemic. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood Editing by Chris Reese)