RIGA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Latvia's central bank on Thursday left its policy rate unchanged at 4.0 percent and made new economic forecasts that were slightly more optimistic.

In a statement, the bank, which pegs the Latvian lat to the euro, said it left rates and reserve requirements unchanged, adding that its lending rate was at a low level.

It said its new forecast for 2009 gross domestic product was a drop of 17 to 17.5 percent, slightly more optimistic than the previous -18 to -19 percent.

It saw 2010 GDP dropping 2.0-2.5 percent, more optimistic than the government's forecast of a fall of 4.0 percent. (Reporting by Patrick Lannin) Keywords: LATVIA RATES/

(Riga newsroom, patrick.lannin@reuters.com, patrick.lannin.reuters.com@reuters.net, +371 29 269 191)

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