 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low, X: J/ m6 L* D, n' V1 v7 f. k- F
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
" C$ z2 `! H1 ?7 s! X' }CBC News& `1 c/ T' W& z+ D4 W, \
5 u1 z. l! @8 n4 F. IThe 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.) u6 i0 i! W3 m( J g% p
+ O* G" G9 s7 J, \+ B/ t% J- LWith 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.
6 @2 _: `/ Z7 g5 f3 ]3 j' C. V' L5 k' ~2 U' |7 E. Q
"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.
; D( [( ^. Y" }% y7 f, W' D/ z- E: b4 E8 j# t# c) N
"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."8 [' y# t+ y# D
0 I1 N1 g+ u1 K% B
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 D2 c8 f* @- `) K: M
! C# E) W, S7 W6 E' pIn 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. |
|