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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low4 Y8 d# E) c+ O
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
3 J6 a/ y1 G0 [CBC News) R. Z+ Q' _, B& }' k5 H
! y& _/ Q0 e4 t+ V7 R0 G5 eThe 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.- [; M7 D7 d7 x, b6 X7 [; P
. @( g( j1 d3 @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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"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.0 u9 s) F# K( V% E. e. b
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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."- u- Z% D- Z5 M/ q3 _+ @
; t! V' H# L+ W, m8 h5 }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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