The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that the Bank of Canada is likely to wrap up its quantitative tightening program as early as April, sooner than policy-makers had previously indicated, say RBC strategists. A Reuters dispatch to the Post reports that the central bank under Governor Tiff Macklem has been shrinking its balance sheet for about two years, withdrawing the extraordinary stimulus it provided during the worse phase of the COVID-19 shock. Its assets have tumbled to about $313-billion from a peak of more than $570-billion as it allows government bonds it holds to mature, draining liquidity from the financial system. That is about to end, however, and officials will probably return to a "stable balance sheet policy" in conjunction with its April 10 rate decision, Simon Deeley, RBC'S director of Canada rates strategy, said in a note to investors. That means it will resume buying Canadian government bonds to replace those coming due. At the very latest, "quantitative tightening ends at a similar time as the first rate cut," which RBC strategists think will be in June, Mr. Deeley wrote. Indicators in short-term funding markets have led analysts to speculate that the move will be accelerated.