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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
/ w( ~ @8 V( c3 q6 WLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83, l5 H8 v$ N( P, W
CBC News+ ]3 I: ] T9 `+ L( q( C& N! o
/ [& A, n( M+ C! L" qThe 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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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 c; r5 f+ W7 t) k
" d* L1 I' V( L2 r' q4 g& ?! g"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.3 @: T8 F y }1 P$ }! c( s1 O
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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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4 F& K8 h7 ~4 c8 yEconomists 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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; w& x7 p Y) l0 zIn 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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