Economy, Law & Politics

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index closed higher Wednesday as the Bank of Canada cut its key lending rate, while U.S. stock markets dipped as the U.S. Federal Reserve kept its rate unchanged.

OTTAWA — The potential for U.S. tariffs is clouding the economic outlook for the Bank of Canada as it delivered another interest rate cut, reducing its policy rate by a quarter-percentage point to three per cent.

The gap in interest rate policies between Canada and the U.S. widened further as the Bank of Canada cut its key lending rate by a quarter-point on Wednesday, while the U.S. Federal Reserve held rates steady.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks slipped after the Federal Reserve held its main interest rate steady and broke a run of cuts that began in September. The S&P 500 fell 0.5% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.

Research suggests GDP growth could be as much as $200B over next decade if interprovincial trade barriers are removed.

OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada cut its key policy rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, bringing it to three per cent.

TORONTO — The vast majority of Canadian business leaders want a targeted, dollar-for-dollar retaliatory response if the United States delivers on its tariff threats this week, a new KPMG in Canada survey found.

Green MLA Jeremy Valeriote will become interim leader until a leadership race in September, after Sonia Furstenau failed to win a seat in the last provincial election.

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump's press secretary says the plan to slap Canada with tariffs on Saturday is still in play, as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called for Parliament to return to prepare for the threat of devastating duties.