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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
% [# u4 Y O) P% F! r4 a. K# u$ gLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
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1 A' g+ n, b& S; O( ?The Bank of Canada chopped a key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point on Tuesday as the central bank moves to combat economic weakness.
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" v9 l5 ^! m+ P oWith the interest rate reduction — which was the biggest drop since one of a similar size in October 2001— the bank's overnight rate now stands at 1.5 per cent, a level not seen since 1958.7 N1 @5 p/ q4 v
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"While Canada's economy evolved largely as expected during the summer and early autumn, it is now entering a recession as a result of the weakness in global economic activity," the bank said.& L s' }. {/ k1 ]) |" B0 K% v3 E
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"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."
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. P9 B1 z+ n, T1 [ _; B( uEconomists had been divided over whether the central bank would cut by one-half of a percentage point or go with a more aggressive reduction.2 `" ?( n8 ^* H1 u
6 L0 k* x9 f5 O4 `7 S8 IIn the wake of the Bank of Canada's decision, the Canadian dollar was trading down 0.93 of a cent to 78.81 cents US. |
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