Industry News

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Canadian consumer debt levels

(January 20, 2005) The continuing low interest rate environment has sparked increased borrowing among Canadian consumers, who are now 7% more in debt than they were last year, according to a new report from CIBC World Markets. CIBC economist Benjamin Tal says that while apocalyptic scenarios about the possible collapse of the credit market may […]

By Doug Watt |January 20, 2005

2 min read

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O’Shaughnessy sticks to the numbers

(January 20, 2005) With so many mutual funds built and sold on the premise that knowing how the underlying companies are run is key, it’s interesting to meet an investment manager who doesn’t interview company executives at all. If past performance is any indication, the computer-driven, numbers-only approach works. Jim O’Shaughnessy has been playing with […]

By Kate McCaffery |January 20, 2005

4 min read

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Morningstar flags the best and worst of 2004

(January 19, 2005) Despite finishing at the bottom of the mutual fund sales chart in 2004 — with $2.3 billion in net redemptions — there was some good news for AGF last year. Its Managed Futures fund was the top performer in 2004, according to data compiled by Morningstar Canada. The fund, run by Zoran […]

By Doug Watt |January 19, 2005

1 min read

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Don’t dismiss short side on commodities

(January 19, 2005) Investors who think they can capture the benefits of commodities by going long on commodity indices had better think again, according to one expert in the managed futures industry. “Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity: those are the things you’re going to have to deal with, and the question is, can you deal […]

By Steven Lamb |January 19, 2005

3 min read

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Personal incomes lagging behind economic growth, TD says

(January 18, 2005) It’s something many Canadians may have suspected, but a study released today suggests it’s true: despite solid growth in the GDP, tame inflation, low borrowing costs, high employment and a housing-market boom, our economic well-being has not advanced in many years. The TD Economics report concludes that the take-home pay of the […]

By Doug Watt |January 18, 2005

2 min read

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Stable outlook and solid growth for Canada in 2005

(January 18, 2005) Managers, strategists and economists participating in the Watson Wyatt 26th Annual Survey of Economic Expectations are less confident in their predictions for the year to come, but overall say the outlook is stable for various indicators affecting Canadian investors. The survey of 43 economists and market forecasters weighed in on Canadian and […]

By Kate McCaffery |January 18, 2005

3 min read

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Commodity prices to ease in 2005: BMO

(January 17, 2005) Increased production, cooler demand and easing political tensions in the Middle East will spell the end of the commodity price rally, according to a forecast from BMO Financial Group Economics Department. Commodities from forestry, to oil, to minerals, all haveseen a run-up in value since mid-2002. “Strong demand from China and the […]

By Steven Lamb |January 17, 2005

2 min read

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Big banks boost 2004 fund sales

(January 17, 2005) Canada’s mutual fund industry had a banner year in 2004, with total net sales of $14.7 billion, IFIC says in its monthly sales report. Three bank-owned firms led the way, accounting for nearly half of net sales last year. “These are the best sales figures we’ve had had since 2001,” said IFIC […]

By Doug Watt |January 17, 2005

2 min read

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Briefly:

(January 21, 2005) The CFA Institute has announced the results of the December sitting of the CFA Institute Level 1 exam. Of the 1,901 candidates who wrote the exam, 754 passed, for a pass rate of about 40%. The next sitting of the Level 1 exam is in June, along with the exam for Levels […]

By Staff |January 17, 2005

10 min read

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M&A activity hot, but can Canada cash in?

(January 14, 2005) The past year proved to be a hot one for mergers and acquisitions in Canada, according to a report from the IDA. While the number of transactions edged higher by 6% in the first three quarters, the value of these deals jumped by 38%. There were 19 of these large transactions in […]

By Steven Lamb |January 14, 2005

2 min read

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