 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
. v: [+ G' p: e, S. _Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend830 k. T. W# Y6 j% R% c+ {' F
CBC News5 f; I1 ]! Z5 [9 Q' d7 R
* i1 A8 [, c+ }+ M- I; D/ ]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.1 E C1 y, E3 h, ]$ ], H1 c
$ a u: x3 L5 f, ^% _3 O0 `
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.
`; `% _6 h B6 Q
, y$ n7 `/ B9 T; B+ U6 N8 c6 k"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. o6 e: z3 k ?+ Z5 T
; J; l. ]/ m( K" o( e9 i' l X3 ~"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."+ B$ Q. h0 R+ v6 @6 P% O+ E
) a$ C+ ]1 Z* N v7 q6 n7 X
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.
6 T0 }( A9 p ~5 s: ?9 p; [0 e) I7 h1 F) h
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. |
|