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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
+ s" U5 P3 a+ G0 ?7 H8 s" gLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83- l( C- c; G( M9 b4 b# @# q3 U8 V" I
CBC News
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1 T6 V9 W' d6 ]2 A" g$ J7 `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., h' W0 P9 u4 j, D
}, e8 N. s/ s. e. F$ EWith 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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- \9 a5 Y5 e( d; b% h, W/ R* a"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." |5 d1 L; q, Q. o
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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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& U1 H& G/ N* e H. ?+ m" D" @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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