NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem Thursday said the bank’s “recalibration” of its asset purchases means it will consider adjusting the scale of its buying, and the maturities of its debt purchases.
Macklem, speaking at a press conference, was asked to explain the bank’s recent statements that it will “recalibrate” its large-scale asset purchase program as needed to meet its policy targets. Some analysts have said this suggests the BoC is preparing to taper its asset purchases.
Macklem noted that the bank has shifted its purchases along the yield curve as the recovery has unfolded, and as market functioning has been restored. As recovery shifts to recuperation and the bank assesses its QE program, the bank will consider “what to buy, as well as how much to buy; could be more, could be less,” Macklem said.
Asked separately how the bank will proceed when it is time to wind down its QE program, Macklem said it is “premature” to talk about an exit strategy. The bank has said it will keep rates at the lower bound until the recovery is well under way, and the slack in the economy has been restored, he said. “There’s lots of time to assess the exit in the future,” Macklem said.
Asked to comment on the shift in maturities on the bank’s balance sheet, Macklem said they reflect stabilized markets: short-term instruments have rolled off due to lack of use of emergency facilities while regular purchases of longer-term maturities have continued.
Asked how the Canadian dollar’s recent strength affected the bank’s policy thinking, Macklem said it was “something we will take into account.”
Macklem downplayed a questioner’s suggestion that the bank’s policies were feeding a bubble in Canada’s housing market. The growth pace in housing is likely to moderate as pent-up demand is worked down and the recovery continues, while household debt remains low, he said.
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