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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low5 s( ?9 Y- ~/ Z4 F$ O
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
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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./ M3 [4 s5 T5 x3 l$ N
0 \* n( n2 F. pWith 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 1958.4 O; X, G8 N5 {( i1 u3 P
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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." b8 L% d6 d4 p" x) y
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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.". G6 i' K; c0 P* C) D0 L. B7 A( s
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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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2 P% I. r$ z9 D# ~' v, P% x) N6 KIn 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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