 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low$ [+ d! q( B3 u4 R
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83" \$ m: \+ n) a1 k6 q
CBC News" X! A" o! W' T& v1 o6 R4 S
, L- W( n1 R1 S9 z
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.! G2 O: {1 }' x+ a/ f+ ~
9 G3 [0 J' E9 ^0 z: R+ F% 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.+ ~- Y4 g# U& b) O( C; S
0 I. o0 M9 ]% O( v n
"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.
0 E% ?1 j! j, B' ]6 U8 x4 n) W% Y* q a% O! K
"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."0 X* \4 M, R& v: c8 z
2 R; N" e/ B: Y; V9 w
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.
# F( ] A! P& z7 O' e2 e
0 a9 Y: n6 G, |In 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. |
|