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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low
; r, v9 W' G0 H! n! n: }& MLast Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83. j% [) ] Y7 b/ Y" r& _
CBC News% y& P0 |1 A! Q/ y, B* Z
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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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- P( \( B D' r/ o. ~* j7 EWith 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.. y8 p' [6 F, e- H6 N r
; p6 |# q0 P- s6 x* J4 s: s2 Q"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.) q9 a/ g: }3 S# W3 E
9 ~; j4 u" J. @$ ]+ d"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."- \. N2 p/ q. ^/ m
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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.( _! u" U$ H& G7 X- x, o
1 C6 [$ Y& [4 C6 y7 B6 uIn 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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