Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz surprised no one when he announced that the Bank of Canada’s interest rate would remain unchanged at 1.75%.

As Tembo outlined in our past post, analysts were divided over whether the Bank would emulate U.S. policies and cut rates or maintain them where they are. But the Governor’s carefully analyzed speech was also littered with a number of poignant warnings:

“Canada’s economy will be increasingly tested as trade conflicts and uncertainty persist. In considering the appropriate path for monetary policy, the bank will be monitoring the extent to which the global slowdown spreads beyond manufacturing and investment.”

In other words, we’re in for ever more difficult times. This was an important warning. The Bank followed up the warning by stating that global economic growth would slow this year to its lowest levels since the 08-09 crisis. The Bank acknowledged that its counterparts around the world have all eased interest rates but it is proud to be standing firm on its decision. The Bank is giving itself wiggle room in case the economy slows into a recession and the slowdown extends past the manufacturing and investment elements of the economy.

It’s important to note that Central Banks around the world are not only lowering rates but are intensifying their market intervention by buying assets and extending additional forms of credit to their member banks. In the United States, the repo frenzy Tembo touched upon continues. This signals that there is some leak in the international financial system, some lack of liquidity that needs to be plugged by cheap and rapidly accessible liquid capital. As we’ve noted before, a repo is when the Fed sells a financial product (bond) to big banks only to repurchase them shortly thereafter at a higher price, thus injecting the difference directly into the financial system. This is particularly effective in reducing short term interest rates in the money market.

Canada is in a stronger position than its international counterparts, as our BOC is not stimulating the economy to similar extents, but it is staying cautious and preparing for the worst.