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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
6 r7 T8 N8 H8 W2 zLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
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9 `6 V( _1 L, B" z# L& zThe 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.0 H! \7 w" i7 s$ ~ z7 p* o; }9 W
9 p" {! o; }0 y. ?' j, UWith 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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( I/ P7 ~* P" }"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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"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."$ ]% C9 c1 o+ o. t, }/ ~
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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.; Z5 S0 C& X3 ]! I1 O" B
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In 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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