BANK OF CANADA: FIN SYSTEM ‘RESILIENT,’ COPING W/ COVID-19, OIL SHOCKS

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Canada’s financial system “remains resilient” in the face of Covid-19 and the oil price shock, with support from Bank of Canada policy, and strong private capital and liquidity buffers, even as the economic outlook remains uncertain, the bank said Thursday.  “Strong policies have put a floor under the economy and laid […]

BANK OF CANADA’S POLOZ: BETTER ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IS ACHIEVABLE

By Gloria Galloway OTTAWA (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada is laying out two economic prospects for the country as it recovers from devastating effects of the global pandemic – one positive and one negative – but the bank’s governor says he is optimistic that the better-case scenario is achievable. In its Monetary Policy Report […]

BANK OF CANADA CUTS RATES ANOTHER 50 BPS

By Gloria Galloway OTTAWA (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada has dropped its target overnight rate for the third time in less than a month as it tries to mitigate the financial and economic damage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephen Poloz, the bank’s governor, announced Friday morning that the rate would fall 50 basis points […]

BANK OF CANADA EMERGENCY MEASURES STATE OF PLAY

By Gloria Galloway OTTAWA (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada has joined other banks around the word in making credit more available and affordable to consumers and financial institutions as the Covid-19 pandemic causes unprecedented upheaval to the global economy. The financial situation in Canada and elsewhere continues to be stressed as a result of […]

CANADA PLANS $82 BLN IN PANDEMIC RELIEF PACKAGE

By Gloria Gallloway OTTAWA (MaceNews) – Canada is promising $82 billion in financial relief to soften the blow of the pandemic crisis that is causing massive upheaval and uncertainty in this country and around the world. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that his government would provide up to $27 billion in direct support for […]

DRAGHI: ECB COUNCIL ‘UNIFIED’ DESPITE POLITICAL PRESSURE ON RATE SETTERS

By Laurie Laird FRANKFURT (MaceNews) – European Central Bank rate setters have largely settled their policy disagreements, according to ECB President Mario Draghi, while acknowledging that global central banks are coming under increasing political pressure.  Addressing reporters after his final meeting, Draghi described a “general call for unity” among governing council members, after a number […]

BANK OF CANADA WARNS TRADE WORRIES HITTING ECONOMY

By Gordon Isfeld OTTAWA (MaceNews) – Global economic tension amid ongoing trade disputes, in particular the growing conflict between the United States and China, has led to weaker business investment overall, the Bank of Canada warned Wednesday. “Canada’s economy is operating close to potential and inflation is on target,” the country`s central bank said in its […]

BANK OF CANADA SEES UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK ON GLOBAL WORRIES

By Gordon Isfeld OTTAWA (MaceNews) – Growing pressure on the global economy may not have seriously dented the outlook for Canada’s near-term growth, but other factors – such as international trade frictions and lingering squabbles over how to resolve the Brexit crisis – are continuing to contribute to growth uncertainty. “Evidence has been accumulating that ongoing […]

BANK OF CANADA’S WILKINS: ALBERTA BETTER AS OIL PRICES RECOVER

By Gordon Isfeld OTTAWA (MaceNews) – Canada’s number two monetary policy leader on Thursday highlighted some positive economic news for Alberta, a province that has weathered a big share of the country`s energy woes. “In terms of oil, prices have recovered from last autumn’s decline, production has started to increase, and profitability has started to […]

STILL FACING CANADA FINANCIAL ‘VULNERABILITIES’

By Gordon Isfeld OTTAWA (MaceNews) – Canada’s financial system continues to face “vulnerabilities” related to household debt and “imbalances” in the country’s residential markets, even as regulators continue to tighten guidelines in mortgage lending. “New measures have curbed borrowing, reduced speculative behaviour in housing markets and made the financial system more resilient,” the Bank of Canada […]