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The second-quarter reading was far lower than the Bank of Canada's (BoC's) forecast for a 1.5% annualized GDP growth as well as the 1.2% gain expected by analysts. The quarterly slowdown was largely due to declines in housing investment and smaller inventory accumulation as well as slower international exports and household spending, Statistics Canada said. The central bank hiked its benchmark overnight rate to a 22-year-high of 5.0% in July, the tenth increase since March of last year. The high interest rate environment has coincided with falling housing investment, which recorded its fifth consecutive quarterly decrease in the three months ended in June. The housing investment decline was led by a sharp drop in new construction as well as a fall in renovation activities, Statscan said.

Persons: Stephen Brown, Andrew Kelvin, Statscan, downwardly, Doug Porter, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Fergal Smith, Nivedita Balu, Mark Porter Organizations: Bank of Canada's, North, Capital Economics, Bank of Canada, Statistics, BoC, Reuters, TD Securities, Money, Canadian, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: OTTAWA, North American, Statistics Canada, Canada

☆ Canadian dollar posts biggest loss in 1 month as economy shrinks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Canadian dollar coin, commonly known as the "Loonie", is pictured in this illustration picture taken in Toronto January 23, 2015. The loonie was trading 0.6% lower at 1.3595 to the U.S. dollar, or 73.56 U.S. cents, its biggest decline since Aug. 1. "The Bank of Canada's job is done," said Adam Button, chief currency analyst at ForexLive. "The Canadian dollar is selling off because the debate will quickly shift to when rate cuts are coming. Separate data showed that the contraction in Canada's manufacturing sector gathered pace in August.

Persons: Mark Blinch, Adam Button, It's, Fergal Smith, Frances Kerry, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, greenback, Canadian, U.S, of Canada, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Toronto, TORONTO, Canada

A sign is pictured outside the Bank of Canada building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 23, 2017. Interest rate futures are pricing in no change next week, but are nearly split over whether rates rise once more. In the latest poll, eight of 34 economists expect one more rate rise to 5.25% by the end of this year, compared with only one in a July poll. "We expect the Bank will hold the overnight rate steady at 5.00% through mid-2024 as the full impact of past rate hikes helps push the economy into a moderate recession. A scenario in which Canadian interest rates stay higher for longer could increase pressure on highly-indebted households, with almost 20% of Canadian mortgages due for renewal next year.

Persons: Chris Wattie, Claire Fan, Tony Stillo, We're, Sal Guatieri, BMO's Guatieri, Milounee Purohit, Prerana Bhat, Ross Finley, Paul Simao Organizations: Bank of Canada, REUTERS, BoC, Canada, RBC, Oxford Economics, U.S . Federal, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Canadian

The logo of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is pictured at the entrance to its branch in Beijing, China April 1, 2019. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC) (601398.SS), the country's biggest lender, and Bank of China (BoC) (601988.SS) posted in exchange filings first half profit growth of 1.2% and 0.78%, respectively, from a year earlier. "There are some regional risks that have begun to emerge," Liu said, adding that asset quality has declined slightly but remains under control. BoC's NIM narrowed to 1.67% at end-June from 1.7% at end-March. "Chinese banks are likely to continue to face earnings pressure from margin compression," said Ming Tan, director at S&P Global Ratings.

Persons: Florence, Liu Jiandong, Liu, NIM, BoC's NIM, ICBC, Ming Tan, Tan, BoC's, Ziyi Tang, Engen Tham, Selena Li, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, REUTERS, BoC, Commercial Bank of China Ltd, Bank of China, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, ICBC's

☆ Chinese banks to cut existing mortgage rates as property crisis deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The reduction in existing mortgage rates will come amid several other property, economic and market support measures Beijing has announced over the past few weeks, as concerns mount about the health of the world's second-largest economy. Chinese lenders were widely expected to cut interest rates on existing mortgages after the PBOC earlier this month said that it would guide commercial banks to do so. The central bank's proposal to cut rates, which came after a wave of early repayments of mortgage debt, aims to reduce the interest rate costs for homebuyers and to boost consumption in a slowing economy. Adjusting existing mortgage rates is conducive to easing pressure on banks from mortgage prepayment, Lin Li, vice president of Agricultural Bank of China Ltd (601288.SS), the country's No.3 lender by assets, said earlier on Tuesday. Cutting deposit rates could help banks to maintain a proper level of NIM, one of the sources said.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Zhu Qibing, Lin Li, Fu Wanjun, NIM, Xiangming Hou, Rong Ma, Tang, Ryan Woo, Selena Li, Sumeet Chatterjee, Alex Richardson, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Agricultural Bank of, REUTERS, Bank, BEIJING, People's Bank of China, Reuters, HK, BOC International China, Citigroup, Agricultural Bank of China Ltd, Agricultural Bank, China's, Thomson Locations: Agricultural Bank of China, Beijing, China, Hong Kong

☆ Canadian economy set to show marked slowdown in second quarter, giving central bank cause to pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Condominium and office towers are seen on the mountain-backed skyline of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada September 30, 2020. The GDP report will be the last major piece of domestic data before the Canadian central bank makes its next policy decision on Sept. 6. The central bank has said it would study economic data closely before determining whether it raises interest rates further. The BoC has projected 1.5% growth for the third quarter, matching its second-quarter estimate. Some argue that the composition of growth in the second-quarter data, including the split between internal and external demand, could also be a consideration.

Persons: Jennifer Gauthier, Carlos Capistran, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Benjamin Reitzes, we've, Stephen Brown, Andrew Grantham, Fergal Smith, Denny Thomas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Canada, BoC, Bank of America, BMO Capital Markets, Money, North, Capital Economics, CIBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Canadian, Mexico, North America

The lessors have so far unsuccessfully argued in Indian courts to get their planes back, citing concerns that parts could go missing and hurt their assets. In a non-public filing dated July 28 and reviewed by Reuters, ACG submitted pictures and details to the Delhi High Court, listing missing parts from two Airbus A320 planes it inspected. These included the captain's "side stick" used to fly the aircraft, a tiller that helps steer it while on the ground, engine fan blades that were "completely missing", a partly missing toilet seat and an escape slide that had been removed. The filing does not say who took out the parts or how they went missing. Go First, whose lessors also include Standard Chartered's Pembroke Aircraft Leasing, SMBC Aviation and BOC Aviation, did not respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, ACG, Pratt, Aditi Shah, Aditya Kalra, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, NEW, Go, ACG Aircraft Leasing, Bankruptcy, Reuters, Court, Airbus, Pembroke Aircraft Leasing, SMBC Aviation, BOC Aviation, Raytheon, Whitney, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, NEW DELHI, Ireland, Delhi, U.S

REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - China's banks will cut deposit rates soon as part of efforts to make mortgages more affordable and revive property demand, analysts reading China's cryptic policy messages reckon. But China did not opt for a broad rate cut that would further depress banks' narrow net interest margins, instead deferring to banks to cut their deposit rates and give themselves room to cheapen mortgages, analysts said. Lowering deposit rates will give banks much needed wiggle room to cut mortgage rates. "Further reductions to the deposit rates are 'arrows on the string,'" said Wang Yifeng, banking analyst at Everbright Securities. He also expects a tweak to rules so that existing mortgage rates can be reset lower.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Wang Yifeng, Zhu Qibing, LPR, Zhu, Lu Ting, Lu, Xing Zhaopeng, Xing, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Samuel Shen, Vidya Ranganathan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: China Securities Regulatory Commission, REUTERS, Rights, Bankers, Everbright Securities, People's Bank of China, BOC International China, Nomura, ANZ, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ Colombia's Grupo Aval posts 75% fall in profit as bank margins fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk in front of the Banco de Bogota, belonging to Grupo Aval, in Bogota, Colombia, October 31, 2019. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 16 (Reuters) - Colombian financial conglomerate Grupo Aval reported a 75.4% year-over-year fall in net profit in the second quarter, according to a securities filing on Wednesday, despite a strong boost in interest income. In the three-month period to June, net profit reached 166.2 billion pesos ($40.6 million). The financial portfolio of Grupo Aval (GAA.CN) includes Colombian banks Banco de Bogota (BBO.CN), Banco Popular (BPO.CN), Banco AV Villas (VLL.CN) and Banco de Occidente (BOC.CN). ($1 = 4,096.08 Colombian pesos)Reporting by Noe Torres in Mexico City, Writing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Noe Torres, Isabel Woodford Organizations: Banco, Bogota, Grupo Aval, REUTERS, Colombian, Grupo, Banco de Bogota, Banco Popular, Banco AV Villas, Occidente, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, Colombian, Mexico City

☆ Big central banks hike again with end of tightening in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Major central banks are tentatively eyeing the end of aggressive interest rate hikes as price pressures finally show signs of abating. So far, nine developed economies have raised rates by a combined 3,865 basis points (bps) in this cycle. This may have marked the end of a 20-month hiking cycle, with economists polled by Reuters expecting the central bank to stay put for the rest of 2023. Canada's inflation rate fell to 2.8% in June. Reuters Graphics10) JAPANThe Bank of Japan, the world's most dovish major central bank, kept its interest rate target at -0.1% in July, but shook markets by making its yield curve control policy more flexible.

Persons: Jerome Powell, BoE, Riksbank, Nell Mackenzie, Alun John, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Chiara Elisei, Vincent Flasseur, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Tomasz Janowski, Toby Chopra Organizations: UNITED, Federal Reserve, ZEALAND, Reserve Bank of New, Reuters, BRITAIN, Bank of England, bps, Bank of Canada, BoC, European Central Bank, ECB, Reserve Bank of Australia, Norges Bank, Swiss, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, NORWAY, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND Swiss, JAPAN

☆ Aircraft lessors set for June 2024 trial over Russia insurance claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photoDUBLIN, July 31 (Reuters) - Some of the world's largest aircraft lessors and insurers are aiming to be ready to go to trial in June 2024 over contested insurance claims for aircraft stuck in Russia, a lawyer for one of the lessors said on Monday. Those steps include finding a venue large enough for the 180 attendees Smith said were expected at the trial each day. Justice Denis McDonald told a packed hearing last month that no court in Ireland was large enough to hear the case. The world's biggest aircraft lessor, Irish-based AerCap (AER.N), is pursuing its insurance claims through London's High Court. AerCap's Chief Financial Officer said on Monday that it continued to have discussions with Russian insurers on a potential settlement regarding some of its aircraft stranded in Russia.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lessors, Kelley Smith, Avolon, Smith, Denis McDonald, we're, Peter Juhas, Padraic Halpin, Mark Potter Organizations: SMBC Aviation, REUTERS, BOC Aviation, HK, CDB Aviation, Nordic Aviation Capital, Carlyle Aviation Partners, world's, Thomson Locations: Russian, DUBLIN, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, London's

☆ Big central banks hike again with end in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

To date, nine developed economies have raised rates by a combined 3,840 basis points (bps) in this cycle. Expectations for a big rate increase have eased after latest data showed inflation fell to a softer-than-expected 7.9% in June. Markets think there's a 50% chance of a 25 bps increase in September, and an equal chance of a hold. Reuters Graphics10) JAPANThe Bank of Japan, the world's most dovish major central bank, concludes a two-day meeting on Friday. The central bank is leaning towards keeping the dial set to dovish, Reuters reported last week.

Persons: Jerome Powell, BoE, Philip Lowe's, Michele Bullock, Riksbank, Kazuo Ueda, Nell Mackenzie, Alun John, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Chiara Elisei, Vincent Flasseur, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Sharon Singleton Organizations: UNITED, Federal Reserve, ZEALAND, Reserve Bank of New, Reuters, BRITAIN, Bank of England, Bank of Canada, BoC, European Central Bank, Norges Bank, bps, Swiss National Bank, Markets, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, AUSTRALIA, NORWAY, Norway, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, JAPAN

☆ Rate convergence keeps Canadian dollar shackled to U.S. counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Money markets are pricing in a peak interest rate of about 5.25% for the Bank of Canada over the coming months, not much less than the 5.42% terminal rate that is priced in for the Fed. Canadian GDP data for May, due on Friday, could guide expectations for additional BoC rate hikes. The Canadian dollar was trading 0.2% lower at 1.3227 to the greenback, or 75.60 U.S. cents, after moving in a range of 1.3159 to 1.3236. "The Canadian dollar still looks cheap relative to where it should be," Osborne said, pointing to recent convergence of Canadian and U.S. yields, improved risk appetite and higher commodity prices. The Canadian 5-year yield touched its highest since December 2007 at 4.030% before dipping to 4.019%, up 13.9 basis points on the day.

Persons: Price, Shaun Osborne, Osborne, Fergal Smith, Nick Zieminski Organizations: greenback, Canadian, Bank of Canada, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Scotiabank, Fed, BoC, Thomson Locations: TORONTO, U.S

☆ Analysis: Is Canadian core inflation about to crack? July data could offer hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The monthly increases for both measures have been 0.3% or less in seven of the last eight months. The BoC, which will release minutes from its July meeting on Wednesday, has said it doesn't want to tighten more than is needed. Canadians are particularly sensitive to higher borrowing costs after loading up on debt in recent years as house prices soared. The July inflation data is due for release on Aug. 15. Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Denny Thomas and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Reitzes, Reitzes, Royce Mendes, Mendes, Fergal Smith, Denny Thomas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: TORONTO, Bank, Canada's, BoC, BMO Capital Markets, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Bank of Canada, Desjardins, Thomson Locations: Helpfully

☆ Canadian market participants see rates staying at 5% in 2023 -BoC survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, July 24 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada (BoC) will not raise rates again and will start cutting a little later than previously anticipated, according to a survey of market participants released by the central bank on Monday. The BoC's second-quarter survey, conducted from June 8 to 19, showed a median of the participants expect the bank to hold interest rates at a 22-year high of 5.00% until the end of 2023, before starting to cut rates in March. A median of 25 participants now also predict a 0.7% gross domestic product growth at the end of 2023, instead of a 0.1% contraction forecast in the last survey. In the survey release on Monday, the median forecast for annual inflation is for 3.0% at the end of this year, compared with 2.7% previously. Expectations for the inflation rate to drop to 2.2% by end-2024 were unchanged.

Persons: Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, David Ljunggren, Marguerita Choy Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, BoC, BOC, Thomson Locations: Ottawa

☆ Canada's inflation rate drops to 27-month low; food prices still elevated
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, July 18 (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate dropped more than expected in June to 2.8%, a 27-month low, though food prices remain elevated, Statistics Canada data showed on Tuesday. Grocery prices rose 9.1% year-over-year in June, a tick higher than the increase recorded in May. Prices of food from restaurants slowed slightly in June than in May. Excluding food and energy, prices rose 3.5% compared with a 4.0% rise in May. The average of two of the Bank of Canada's (BoC) core measures of underlying inflation, CPI-median and CPI-trim, came in at 3.8% compared with 3.9% in May.

Persons: Ismail Shakil, Dale Smith Organizations: OTTAWA, Statistics, Reuters, Bank of Canada's, Thomson Locations: Statistics Canada, China, Ottawa

OTTAWA, July 18 (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate dropped more than expected to a 27-month low of 2.8% in June, data showed on Tuesday, led by lower energy prices while food and shelter cost increases persisted. Month-over-month, the consumer price index was up 0.1%, Statistics Canada said, which was also lower than the 0.3% forecast. "Inflation is definitely moving in the right direction, but we're seeing stickier and more persistent core measures," said Michael Greenberg, senior vice president and portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. The average of two of the Bank of Canada's (BoC) core measures of underlying inflation, CPI-median and CPI-trim, came in at 3.8% compared with 3.9% in May. "The Bank of Canada's preferred measures of core inflation, which exclude significant moves in individual categories, show that underlying price pressures remain sticky," said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins Group.

Persons: stickier, Michael Greenberg, Royce Mendes, Mendes, We're, Jules Boudreau, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Nivedita Balu, Dale Smith, Will Dunham, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: OTTAWA, Reuters, Statistics, Bank of Canada's, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, Canada's, Desjardins Group, The Bank of Canada, Mackenzie Investments, Canadian, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Statistics Canada, Mackenzie, China, Ottawa, Toronto

Macklem came under a rare attack last year from opposition politicians for misjudging inflation and locking in to a rigid forward guidance. "We are turning the corner on inflation," Macklem told reporters in January when the BoC became the first major central bank to announce a pause. The central bank's tightening campaign is a major concern for Canadians who loaded up on cheap mortgages and took on credit card and other debt in recent years. "Now maybe you're getting a certain maturity of the central bank that says, 'We're not going to do that again,'" Holt said. He assured Canadians during the pandemic that rates would rise only in 2023 when it expected the economic slack to be absorbed, but the central bank began hiking rates in March 2022 as inflation spiked.

Persons: Derek Holt, Macklem, Holt, Marc Chandler, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Denny Thomas, Matthew Lewis Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, BoC, Scotiabank ., Canadian Real Estate Association, Bannockburn Global Forex, Thomson Locations: Bannockburn, Ottawa, Toronto

Unlike the U.S., where home buyers can snag a 30-year mortgage, Canadian borrowers must renew their mortgages every five years at the prevailing interest rates. MORTGAGE DELINQUENCIES LOWLatest data released during the quarterly earnings showed mortgage delinquencies for all banks were low. Of the big six banks in Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) and National Bank of Canada (NA.TO) do not offer mortgage extensions, meaning the payment owed by the consumer goes up for each hike the BoC announces. Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO), CIBC (CM.TO) and TD Bank (TD.TO) each allow for negative amortization as rates rise. So it is working counter to what the Bank of Canada is trying to accomplish," Briggs added.

Persons: Greg Taylor, Desjardins, Mike Rizvanovic, Rizvanovic, Darcy Briggs, Briggs, Nivedita Balu, Josie Kao, David Gregorio Our Organizations: TORONTO, Bank, Purpose Investments, Bank of Nova, National Bank of Canada, BoC, RBC, Scotiabank, National Bank, Bank of Montreal, CIBC, TD Bank, Desjardins . Royal Bank of Canada, BMO, Franklin Templeton, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: U.S, Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, Franklin Templeton Canada, Toronto

After a five-month pause, the BoC raised its overnight rate in June, saying monetary policy was not sufficiently restrictive. "If new information suggests we need to do more, we are prepared to increase our policy rate further," BoC Governor Tiff Macklem told reporters after the decision. The BoC's overnight target rate was last at 5.00% in March and April of 2001. Twenty of 24 economists surveyed by Reuters had expected the central bank to lift rates by a quarter of a percentage point. Money markets had seen a more than a 70% chance of a rate hike before the announcement.

Persons: Derek Holt, Andrew Kelvin, Steve Scherer, Ismail Shakil, Fergal Smith, Divya Rajogopal, Nivedita Balu, Paul Simao, Mark Porter Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, Wednesday, BoC, Scotiabank, Reuters, TD Securities, Thomson Locations: Canada, Toronto

☆ Bank of Canada expected to hike rates as economy outperforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We expect the Bank of Canada to raise its policy rate to 5.00% and leave the door open to more hikes this fall." Twenty of 24 economists surveyed by Reuters expect the central bank to lift rates by another quarter of a percentage point and then hold them there well into 2024. Money markets see more than a 70% chance of a rate hike on Wednesday, and are fully pricing in such a move by September. Canada added far more jobs than expected in June, according to data published on Friday. "And let's face it, inflation is still above the Bank of Canada's 2% target."

Persons: Royce Mendes, Tiago Figueiredo, Doug Porter, Porter, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Paul Simao Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, BoC, Bank of Canada's, Group, Reuters, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Canadian, Canada

☆ Bank of Canada seen hiking rates quarter point to tame stubborn inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In June, the central bank raised its overnight rate to a 22-year high of 4.75% after a five-month pause, saying monetary policy was not restrictive enough. Data in the past month showed some signs of a slowdown - inflation cooling to 3.4%, a tepid May jobs report and a surprise trade deficit in May. "We expect the BoC to take the policy rate 25 basis points higher to 5%." Twenty of 24 economists surveyed by Reuters expect the bank to lift rates by another quarter-point and then hold well into 2024. Reporting by Steve Scherer, additional reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jay Zhao, Murray, Andrew Grantham, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, David Gregorio Our Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, BoC, Monex, Reuters, CIBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Canada

OTTAWA, July 7 (Reuters) - Canada's economy added far more jobs than expected in June, data showed on Friday, a result analysts said probably seals the deal for another Bank of Canada (BoC) interest rate hike next week. The unemployment rate in June increased for the second consecutive month and is now at its highest level since February 2022, though still below a pre-pandemic 12-month average, Statscan said. The June jobs report is the last major economic figure to be released before the BoC's rate announcement on Wednesday. Growth has remained resilient despite nine rate increases totaling 450 basis points since March of last year. The net jobs addition in June, the largest since January, were driven by full-time work.

Persons: Jobs, Statscan, Derek Holt, Royce Mendes, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Emelia Sithole, Mark Porter Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, BoC, Statistics, Scotiabank, Desjardins Group, Reuters, Canadian, Employment, Thomson Locations: Statistics Canada, Ottawa

☆ Canada port strike may add to inflation concerns ahead of rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A view shows placards as longshoremen with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU) strike outside the Port of Vancouver's Neptune Bulk Terminals in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada July 5, 2023. Some 7,500 dock workers went on strike on Saturday for higher wages, upending operations at two of Canada's three busiest ports, the Port of Vancouver and Port of Prince Rupert. Money markets expect the central bank to tighten further, possibly as soon as at a policy decision next Wednesday. The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CM&E) industry body said the strike is disrupting C$500 million in trade every day. ($1 = 1.3360 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Fergal Smith, editing by Steve Scherer and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Port of Prince Rupert, Andrew Grantham, Seamus O'Regan, It's, Robert Kavcic, Fergal Smith, Steve Scherer, Josie Kao Organizations: Warehouse Union, REUTERS, TORONTO, Bank of Canada, BoC, CIBC Capital Markets, Bank of, Reuters, Twitter, Canadian Manufacturers, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: of, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Port of Vancouver, Port of, Bank of Canada

☆ Bank of Canada to raise rates 25 basis points on July 12, possibly the last
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Milounee Purohit | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

So the BoC will press ahead and hike the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 5.00% on July 12, according to 20 of 24 economists in the June 28-July 6 Reuters poll. That would amount to 475 basis points in total since March 2022, taking the overnight rate to a new 22-year high. Inflation is not expected to fall to the central bank's 2% target at least until 2025, according to the poll. The central bank was predicted to keep rates on hold at 5.00% until Q2 2024, said a majority of economists. Rates staying high for longer is expected to boost the Canadian dollar, one of the best performers among G10 currencies this year.

Persons: Priscilla Thiagamoorthy, Claire Fan, Kit Juckes, Milounee Purohit, Vijayalakshmi Srinivasan, Ross Finley, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Bank of Canada, Reuters, BoC, BMO Capital Markets, Gross, RBC Economics, Canadian, U.S, Societe Generale, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU

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