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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
4 }7 I* \8 x& e# H H5 D% wLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
9 R# k! ]! A# a0 x3 R5 JCBC News9 m, J! M5 E. R @' Y1 y
7 o2 R! F# @' wThe 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.# |4 D# \4 a3 S$ b7 E
, I8 ^/ {) x i* JWith 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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"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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2 R" N, p; \$ [$ I8 e- L"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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4 @/ y( k# g( QEconomists had been divided over whether the central bank would cut by one-half of a percentage point or go with a more aggressive reduction.7 n) K, U s- ?) ]
D2 S s) n7 {+ _: A6 C5 J. ZIn 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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