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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low" E7 \7 N4 ~/ t4 L1 g* }* {
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
$ @, I. ?; L5 c; ^CBC News# t; O: s6 w! J3 t
' T2 @* m. c# W6 o$ _# s( z9 SThe 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.$ ]3 I( Y" B, e3 h; E; r: C8 h
6 y; B$ K r4 M# _& U) g! |) qWith 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.
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, X* n- B7 }' \; a5 j0 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.. ]+ \, g7 G7 f5 V4 ^* @& B
/ o8 \9 ~$ Z% w) h1 s+ u"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."# c# M- _. } i/ P7 u
' e8 H) F5 f7 ~; ]! U# O0 a$ ~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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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. |
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