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Bank of Canada chops borrowing costs to 50-year low0 ~5 A4 }; ~' o4 T1 T: r
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | 9:28 AM ET Comments80Recommend83
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9 k+ @& }/ a+ [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.0 f4 v5 B0 Q" H- t) _, a; M
3 T1 `) O* `; s( Y/ E0 F3 JWith 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 l Q% X9 o- K$ \8 u" r
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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.
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w ^8 w O D3 }* z) @/ X"The recent declines in terms of trade, real income growth, and confidence are prompting more cautious behaviour by households and businesses."4 {% S3 _$ ^9 b. b
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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.
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3 q: h; Y9 k! j% C4 S/ \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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