Senior economists from CIBC are making bold predictions on where interest rates will be going. They predict that the BOC will cut rates by 25 basis points next year, in lockstep with the Fed. This would see rates fall from 1.75% to 1.50%, if current rates hold. The rationale for the expectation of a cut follows weakening economic data, slowing growth, and a significant trade and account deficit. Banks have also reported financial data which shows Canadian contributions to their bottom lines seeing little to no growth, with the bulk of profit growth coming from U.S. assets.
In addition, pressure over mortgage stress tests has many believing that lower rates are necessary to give hope to the tens of thousands of prospective home buyers who have now been squeezed out of the market permanently. But the real overhang on this file has been the growing chorus of voices across the border which are demanding that the U.S. Federal Reserve cut rates, pump up the economy with more quantitative easing, and more efforts to stimulate a stagnant U.S. economy. The originator of much of this pressure has been Donald Trump himself. Trump’s language of criticism against the U.S. Fed and Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been consistently scathing for some time now.
Several days ago, the President tweeted that the U.S. stock market and economy would reach even higher levels if the Fed ‘did what China is doing’ by lowering rates and making the U.S. dollar cheaper in relation to competitors to boost exports. He also claimed that the Fed has ‘consistently been raising rates’ on his watch, seeing it as discriminatory. He also has stated the view that the stock market would reach record highs if the Fed lowered rates. At first, many called Trump’s language unprecedented and authoritarian, but now economists, market watchers, and business leaders are echoing his criticism of the Fed and are urging it to supercharge the U.S. economy so it can better compete with China. Lower interest rates are on their way.