SHANGHAI, Nov 19 Reuters China is widely expected to leave its benchmark lending rates unchanged on Wednesday, a Reuters poll showed, as rate cuts a month earlier squeeze banks39; profitability and the yuan comes under fresh pressure as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Beijing has announced a series of stimulus steps since late September, ranging from monetary easing, to fiscal measures and property market support, in an attempt to pull the economy out of a deflationary funk and back towards the government39;s growth target.

In October, Chinese lenders slashed lending benchmarks by biggerthanexpected margins to revive economic activity.

But with Trump39;s reelection, some analysts say policymakers in Beijing may now prefer to keep their powder dry, refraining from further strong moves until he takes office in January and reveals more clues on his policy intentions.

The loan prime rate LPR, normally charged to banks39; best clients, is calculated each month after 20 designated commercial banks submit propose rates to the People39;s Bank of China PBOC.

In a Reuters survey of 28 market watchers conducted this week, all respondents expected both the oneyear and fiveyear LPRs to remain steady.

LPRs were lowered so sharply in October, so it is unlikely to have another cut this month, said a trader at a Chinese bank.

We may first wait and see the impact of the policy in the short term.

As part of his pitch to boost American manufacturing during the recent…