While 80% of the market was counting on a rate hike yesterday, the Bank of Canada remained hawkish. The summary below provides a lot of the financial details, if you are interested. Otherwise, read the beginning and then jump down to the 'Looking Ahead for vital information if you are watching interest rates.'
The next scheduled Bank of Canada (BOC) announcement is set for March 2nd. Going into February, watch the current 5 years fixed mortgage terms. Many lenders increased their rates in anticipation of an increase yesterday, so can we see a slight paring back in February? Don't expect any dramatic drops, but maybe we will be lucky to see .1% or .2% drop. It's hard to say, but if you are contemplating going into a 5 year fixed, it would be worth checking rates regularly in February.
The good news is that CIBC and First National economists are more conservative in their overall estimations of total interest rate increases. They expect 3 increases this year (.75%) and maybe 3 next year. Most experts do not agree with Scotiabank's estimation of 8 increases by 2023 which equals to 2% increase.
A BOC first increase of .25% won't overly impact the market. However, once it goes over .36% or two quarter increases, buyers will see lenders trim back their capacity. This is because qualifications are based on a 5.25% stress test or 2% over contract rate (or 5 years fixed rate).
This may start cooling off this overly hot real estate market in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver. A good thing for buyers coping with multiple bids and rising property prices.
Bottom Line: We are in unprecedented times in recent history, trying to come out of a pandemic and now fighting inflation. Experts are all over the map with their predictions, so consumers need to base their decisions on facts and their financial situation. The BOC will raise interest rates, but no one really know how much in total. It will all depend on the net effect on inflation, real estate prices and a host of other factors. Only time will tell!
Here's the full summary:
This morning in its first scheduled policy decision of 2022, the Bank of Canada left its target overnight benchmark rate unchanged at what it describes as its “lower bound” of 0.25%. As a result, the Bank Rate stays at 0.5% and the knock-on effect is that borrowing costs for Canadians will remain low for the time being.
The Bank also updated its observations on the state of the economy, both in Canada and globally, leaving a strong impression that rates will rise this year.
More specifically, the Bank said that its Governing Council has decided to end its extraordinary commitment to hold its policy rate at the effective lower bound and that looking ahead, it expects “… interest rates will need to increase, with the timing and pace of those increases guided by the Bank’s commitment to achieving” its 2% inflation target.
These are the other highlights of today’s BoC announcement.
Canadian economy
Canadian inflation
Global economy
January Monetary Policy Report
The key messages found in the BoC’s Monetary Policy Report published today were consistent with the highlights noted above:
The Bank intends to keep its holdings of Government of Canada bonds on its balance sheet roughly constant “at least until” it begins to raise its policy interest rate. At that time, the BoC’s Governing Council will consider exiting what it calls its “reinvestment phase” and reducing the size of its balance sheet. It will do so by allowing the roll-off of maturing Government of Canada bonds.
While the Bank acknowledges that COVID-19 continues to affect economic activity unevenly across sectors, the Governing Council believes that overall slack in the economy is now absorbed, “thus satisfying the condition outlined in the Bank’s forward guidance on its policy interest rate” and setting the stage for increases in 2022.