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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low$ F( `. C; O% P! V/ T% g
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
C7 u8 Z |1 W: e3 q, [$ M) iCBC News6 E- [. t: R9 v4 J( Y; _
C" M7 a! U7 W' O# QThe 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.4 E+ W$ L# p3 y) w1 o" ^
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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.
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5 q4 x+ z8 j( z, H1 r8 @. S- I) C"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./ I- n& `+ |) l
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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."- Y8 }3 A; W2 ]7 e1 w
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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.! s5 w. H! w8 L8 A. W
6 ~$ z4 Q( M7 m5 |. E, FIn 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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