Bank of Canada Holds Rates Steady, Eyes Future Cuts

The Bank of Canada (BoC) announced on Wednesday that it would maintain its key interest rate at 5%, signaling a cautious approach amidst the delicate balance of rising inflation and sluggish economic growth.

BoC Governor Tiff Macklem emphasized a shift in focus from contemplating rate hikes to determining the optimal duration to sustain the current level. While dismissing talks of rate reductions as premature, Macklem did not rule out the possibility of future increases if inflationary pressures persisted.

Since its last adjustment in July, when rates were raised for the fifth time since 2020, the BoC has held a steady course. Inflation, exceeding the bank’s 2% target for much of the past year, peaked at 8.1% in June 2022. Despite this, the BoC foresees a moderation in inflation as the impact of supply shocks and pandemic-related factors diminishes over the coming months.

Bank of Canada Maintains Growth Forecasts

The bank also maintained its growth projections, forecasting a 0.8% growth rate in 2024 and a more robust 2.4% in 2025. Anticipating a gradual recovery in the latter half of the year, the BoC cited strong consumer spending, business investment, and fiscal stimulus as key supporting factors.

Despite this stance, a Reuters poll reveals that most economists predict a potential 25-basis point rate cut in June or later. This speculation is grounded in expectations of the economy returning to its potential output and inflation stabilizing around 2%.

Canadian Dollar Falls Following BoC’s Decision

In response to the announcement, the Canadian dollar (CAD) experienced a 0.42% decline against the US dollar (USD), settling at 1.3517 at the time of reporting.

This decline renews the challenge against the 1.3515 resistance level, previously encountered last week. The BoC remains committed to closely monitoring economic and inflationary developments, ready to adjust its policy to meet its objectives. How are we going to trade the USD/CAD on our forex signals Telegram channel?