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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low$ ]9 l) w& W* O2 g
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
8 X3 f8 f9 M* `& S2 U! P0 bCBC 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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1 M( G/ E/ |# w. a5 I* h8 G& {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 1958.1 D s+ E* T; C4 \6 l. I6 _
7 b3 c4 n {- t"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.# s# h! K& y( s; \& u% f! ~6 b m
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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."
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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.6 r% K2 u5 ~% E. O7 N8 ~/ h
; U% x" O+ w5 ?7 ?% f/ M0 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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