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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
9 t5 S' J7 M3 A0 H) V( D7 LLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83/ }2 N! d4 P. p' J" N! x
CBC News
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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.
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+ e, E# t' O6 Q$ |9 oWith 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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0 t* c/ J* D" j3 Y* c* `3 m4 j- g"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.& f$ ]7 k8 @/ B9 C' W* S8 J
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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."9 m% ]- l5 z4 T0 K3 _
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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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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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