Canadians likely weren’t in shock on Wednesday as the Bank of Canada (BoC) held the key interest rate at 5%. It was the fifth time in a row that the bank held the rate steady, with economists expecting as much. Inflation may have slowed to 2.9% in January, and sure this was in target range. However, the bank stated inflationary pressures still persist, so more progress will be needed before rate cuts can begin.
Image source: Getty Images
What happened
While the move wasn’t anything crazy, it does show more positivity towards a rate cut. Especially as the inflation rate looks to be falling faster than expected. Dropping to 2.9% in January brought this key indicator within the BoC’s target range.
The drop was driven by lower gas prices and slower food price growth, which is great for consumers. Yet housing remained higher, and gas prices can be volatile. So they will likely wait for further confirmation that inflation is under control. What’s more, core inflation remained above 3%, so we are likely not going to see some rate cuts until June.
So even with all the pressure from businesses and homeowners to cut interest rates, the BoC remains cautious. Even so, the central banker remains optimistic about achieving a “soft landing,” and this would help to avoid causing a recession.
For now, the BoC believes that inflation will likely stay above 2% until at least mid-2024. Another economic forecast is due on April 10th, and this could potentially provide far more clarity about future rate decisions.
What investors need to know
Besides affecting your mortgage, there are a few things investors need to know when it comes to interest rates remaining stable. For one, inflation is slowing but remains above the target range of between 1 to 3%. So the rate will continue to stay there until it’s under control.
Furthermore, the BoC remains focused on core inflation, which excludes the volatile components like food and energy. Even so, the movement predicts that we still could see a cut as early as June, and that means investors should be quite cautious until at least then.
So how can investors prepare? Economists believe that at least until then, the focus should be on stability. This looks different for every investor, but there are some overall notes you can take. For instance, increase exposure to bonds. As interest rates fall, bond prices rise. This fixed-income investment can provide capital appreciation and higher coupon payments.
Consider other income-oriented investments as well. This would mean getting in on those guaranteed investment certificates (GIC). These will only remain around 5% until interest rates are cut. So I would certainly consider this area as well.
However, there are certainly areas in stocks to invest in as well, especially if you want exposure to income. So let’s look at one option for those who are struggling to find a place to invest on the TSX today.
Get in on income
If you want a strong mixture of stocks and bonds, then I would consider an investment in an exchange-traded fund (ETF). An ETF is perfect for diversification as you can get a strong mix of stocks and bonds, with just the click of a button. What’s more, you have a manager watching your portfolio for you!
A great option to consider right now then is the BMO Monthly Income ETF (TSX: ZMI). This is a passively managed ETF that tracks the Solactive Canadian Monthly Income Index. It’s designed for investors wanting exposure to a diversified portfolio of income-generating Canadian securities.
These include investment-grade Canadian bonds and dividend-paying stocks, as well as real estate investment trusts (REITs). What’s more, it’s cheap offering a management expense ratio (MER) at just 0.5% as of writing. You can grab hold of a dividend yield at 5.14% as of writing, and again that comes out monthly!
So don’t get out of the market, simply shift within it. And hold onto your long-term goals, even in the face of rate holds.
