Central bank predicts longer slump and more uncertainty about future rate hikes

OTTAWA -- The Bank of Canada is leaving its key interest rate unchanged in the wake of an abrupt economic deceleration that it says is injecting more uncertainty about the timing of future rate hikes. The central bank also told Canadians on Wednesday that they should to expect a bleaker economic performance in the months ahead. The bank now believes the weakness will last through the first half of 2019, which is longer than the temporary slump governor Stephen Poloz had predicted earlier in the