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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
( S5 ]; _, _; ^8 P& Y% z' dLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend833 ^/ A0 ^, _' E0 Z4 N4 T
CBC News* T; z2 u8 ?7 ]* w0 w' e+ f1 \
2 K E, i1 @8 d! oThe 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.! G) F* A; r* `
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With 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.% k3 {; u- m' Q7 L
5 ^) a' l+ ^ h# g( w, N& l( _"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.
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9 Q3 s( s# u* D) t8 R, |; Q9 x& ?"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."' e( h/ @0 M3 {3 m% w6 ~6 M1 G
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Economists had been divided over whether the central bank would cut by one-half of a percentage point or go with a more aggressive reduction.
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& ]" E- D; K3 m$ z9 }2 j7 ~; r5 QIn 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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