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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
) ` _2 A) m# o- O/ e5 fLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83- g X/ T5 z8 a2 n& b! G6 ^+ f B
CBC News3 X6 w$ V7 J) |; Z, }/ j5 ^6 ?
% l" Q e& _$ t" l7 mThe 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.& X- O4 ^6 ~% r3 w7 x7 f$ c: X
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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.' G, T d- a! Q3 Q w! T8 k! W
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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.
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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."4 p8 H/ g7 \" s2 B$ F2 ^$ h
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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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3 j( C" d x( J' CIn 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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