The Bank of Canada expressed optimism about the prospects of a strong recovery later this year despite a run of weak data, keeping expectations intact for a resumption of bond tapering in October.
In a statement Wednesday from Ottawa, policy makers left their key interest rate at a historic low and maintained the current pace of bond purchases, but reiterated expectations that growth will accelerate in the second half of this year
The cautiously optimistic tone suggests policy makers led by Governor Tiff Macklem are unfazed by weaker than expected economic activity data last week that has cast some doubt over the pace of the recovery. The stand-pat decision was widely anticipated by analysts, many of whom expect the central bank to resume tapering as soon as next month.
“The long-term outlook doesn’t appear to be changed,” Frances Donald, chief economist at Manulife Asset Management Ltd., told BNN Bloomberg Television, calling the bank’s policy statement a “glass-half-full placeholder.”
The central bank held its benchmark overnight interest rate at 0.25 per cent and retained a pledge to not raise it until damage from the Covid-19 pandemic is fully repaired. The bank also said it would continue to buy $2 billion (US$1.5 billion) a week of Canadian government bonds, while reiterating that the pace of asset purchases will decline as the recovery proceeds.
“Decisions regarding future adjustments to the pace of net bond purchases will be guided by Governing Council’s ongoing assessment of the strength and durability of the recovery,” policy makers said in the statement. “We will continue to provide the appropriate degree of monetary policy stimulus to support the recovery and achieve the inflation objective.”
The Canadian dollar weakened, falling about 0.7 per cent since the decision to $1.2734 per U.S. dollar as of 10:55 a.m. in Toronto.
The Bank of Canada has been taking steps to gradually return to more normal policy, reducing its asset purchase program three times since the end of last year.
The policy decision was a statement-only affair with no new forecasts. Waiting until October to taper again gives the bank time to reassess incoming economic data on the summer months after the election ends. The Bank of Canada has also sought to tread carefully around the election campaign, avoiding any major changes that could become fodder for parties ahead of the Sept. 20 vote.
Wednesday’s statement comes amid a shock contraction in output. Gross domestic product dropped 1.1 per cent in the second quarter, the national statistics agency said last week, well below the 2.5 per cent expansion the bank forecast in July.
The bank acknowledged the recent string of weak data but continued to express belief that the economy would strengthen in second half of the year. Officials pointed to supply chain disruptions as a key factor in the contraction in second quarter output.
