Economics

Bank of Canada Set to Raise Rates in Inflation Fight: Decision Guide

  • Swaps markets put chances of first hike this week at about 70%
  • But nation’s heavy debt burden complicates Macklem’s calculus
Tiff Macklem, governor of the Bank of Canada.Photographer: David Kawai/Bloomberg
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Investors expect the Bank of Canada will start an aggressive series of interest rate hikes this week as the central bank launches its campaign to wrestle inflation down from a three-decade high.

Trading in overnight swaps markets suggests there’s about a 70% chance policy makers led by Governor Tiff Macklem will raise the benchmark interest rate to 0.5% from its emergency low of 0.25% in a decision due Wednesday morning. It would be the first of likely six moves to increase borrowing costs over the next 12 months.