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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
|( J$ p# z5 X1 TLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
0 J# c4 c9 w, aCBC 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." i% ?6 c2 i7 s) Y6 Y$ ?; d
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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.' |8 K9 ^# N! G
7 q6 y# t. x+ O) R! b+ Y. E C"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.4 [8 z0 u$ Z) y: @
+ A5 p' n- m, v2 C B5 b"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."# n+ g+ O4 `& f K: E
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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.9 I0 X3 L! W' d' B3 ]
+ g/ P+ b/ S$ ^0 w5 vIn 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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