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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low9 V, Q5 @* d, n f* x' Q
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
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+ @: W& v+ i( c; 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.
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8 g/ O5 c% R3 e1 C/ @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./ I$ P' w# p* Q( e8 z
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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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) v9 d7 y: Y, F4 E: t2 t1 ], S"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."" A2 w+ c* ~0 Z7 x2 |" ?
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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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1 x7 b1 o; S# T0 X/ WIn 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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