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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
* C' x" b: ^6 }1 H4 ]8 L" F. T VLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
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$ w0 b7 J6 @& j' Q' pThe 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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$ w/ G# ]1 M9 M' G$ R2 ~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.
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! z' P% J; t/ L0 I: n9 Z0 |0 h"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.( w7 Z5 N: {% Z% P
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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."8 X c! ]7 C1 E; T- @* [( Y& W) M
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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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' P3 X5 @+ e! k0 ~4 g( }7 r8 x3 KIn 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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