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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
7 c6 L/ Z+ x0 o& D" }+ M# f1 tLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83" h' [1 w& h$ M5 ?
CBC News# x: G2 k; z% k L* c! v# S
7 K2 q2 O+ K3 x: y. }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.
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; o7 ]) e$ z% l7 ]3 h: U+ N: d' m7 wWith 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.* x9 M: V5 q* m4 X/ n
5 H- j2 r2 w( _9 `& F1 W"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.- f) x( M" ~6 i q4 X, p( d4 C4 ]
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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."5 M5 D9 a4 w+ x) }% \
1 c: J# B8 {( u6 o, ZEconomists had been divided over whether the central bank would cut by one-half of a percentage point or go with a more aggressive reduction.' y. `* K7 i) x) g4 b
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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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