The Financial Post reports in its Saturday edition that a Bank of Canada interest rate hike this year looks less likely based on the latest jobs numbers, economists say. The Post's Gigi Suhanic writes that Bank of Montreal economist Douglas Porter said, "Today's ho-hum [BOC] report likely has a better grasp on reality," adding that the supersized gains during the previous three months left him "skeptical" with the fall in the unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent in November coming as a "shock." He said the December data settled those misgivings and the pace of job gains now strikes him as more "realistic." Still, Mr. Porter does note think these results will catch the Bank of Canada's attention, but they will tamp down talk of a rate hike this year. BMO expects the Bank of Canada to remain on hold on interest rates this year. CIBC Capital Markets economist Andrew Grantham said, "With more people once again looking for work, today's unemployment rate suggests that there's still plenty of room for non-inflationary growth before the Bank of Canada will need to think about interest rate hikes," Mr. Grantham said. CIBC expects the BOC to hold interest rates at the current level for the remainder of the year.