Blogs
Blog Categories
Mortgage Market Updates and News
What to do, what to see? In Port Alberni, BC
Bank of Canada chief Poloz says rates on hold until economic data improves
Posted on Jan 22, 2014 in Mortgage Market Updates and News
Louise Egan and Randall Palmer, ReutersFinancial Post
http://business.financialpost.com/author/reutersnp/
OTTAWA • The Bank of Canada should keep its key interest rate on hold until economic data persuades it otherwise, central bank chief Stephen Poloz said on Tuesday, adding that he was not worried about calls from some international players to tighten policy.
His comments follow controversial remarks by Canada’s finance minister on Sunday suggesting there would be pressure to raise interest rates in 2014.
“For us, minimizing the risks of making a big mistake here is what we’re trying to do, and that tells us that we should be holding rates where they are until the data flow changes our mind,” Poloz said in an interview with CBC television.
Asked about the potential for higher rates in 2014, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told CTV television on Sunday there would be some pressure to tighten because of the U.S. Federal Reserve scaling back its bond-purchasing program.
He also cited reports by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Monetary Fund recommending rate increases.
“I think the pressure will be there because the Fed in the U.S. should stop printing money, and taper off as they say … And the OECD and the IMF have both said to Canada, we ought to let our interest rates go up a bit, so there will be some pressure there for that to happen,” Flaherty said.