Economics

Lower inflation hints at later rate hike

Fears of a September interest rate increase were partially allayed this morning, when StatsCanada reported lower than expected inflation for the month of June. The overall inflation rate for the 12 months ended June 30 was 3.1%, down from 3.7% for the year ending May 31. More importantly, the core inflation rate declined from 1.8% […]

By Wire services |July 22, 2011

3 min read

Industry

Weekly Pulse: Employment data ruins the party

Believe it or not, we just finished a week where Greece did not dominate the headlines. Instead, focus turned towards U.S. economics and monetary policy in a number of countries, including China. Canadian markets started with positive momentum thanks to a much better than expected U.S. ISM Manufacturing Index print that was posted while we were all celebrating Canada Day last week.

By Gareth Watson |July 11, 2011

4 min read

Economic Indicators

Who’s to blame for global inflation?

Inflation, a global concern, is almost everywhere considered to be a monetary phenomenon. In reality, money is not what really drives inflation. “It’s fiscal pressure and bankrupt governments,” said Dylan Grice, global strategy research analyst with Société Générale. He was speaking at the CFA Institute’s annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, earlier this year. Most of […]

By Vikram Barhat |July 8, 2011

5 min read

Economic Indicators

Jobs reports: A tale of two countries

It may not have been the best of times, nor the worst of times on the North American jobs market in June, but there was a marked difference between how Canada and the U.S. are shaping up. The Canadian economy created 28,000 jobs last month posting its third consecutive month of growth, helped by a […]

By Wire services |July 8, 2011

3 min read

The Weekly Pulse: Case for a can kicking

By all conventional measures Greece as a sovereign nation is insolvent and all efforts to prolong an inevitable default is in essence just kicking the can down the road. Equity and commodity investors breathed a huge sigh of relief this week as the Greek parliament voted on and passed contentious austerity legislation. The new rules cut wages, raise taxes, and privatize Greek institutions there by enabling the indebted nation to receive its next tranche of a EU and IMF orchestrated bailout.

5 min read

Economy loses steam, remains on track

The tenuous Canadian economic growth cycle has downshifted to its weakest quarter since recession, according to a new report from CIBC World Markets Inc. The report expects Canadian real GDP to grow by only 1% this quarter before rebounding in the third and fourth quarters to the expected annual average of 2.7%, outpaced by the […]

2 min read

Global investor confidence falls

After a brief recovery in May, global investor confidence fell back below 100 to settle at 99.2, according to the results of the State Street Investor Confidence Index for June 2011. This represents a decline of 5.1 points from May’s revised reading of 104.3 The decline was most pronounced among North American investors, whose confidence […]

By Staff |June 28, 2011

2 min read

Consumer confidence dips

Canadian consumer sentiment dipped in the second quarter, but most expect the country will enjoy positive economic results over the coming five years, according to a Harris/Decima survey for Investors Group. The overall confidence reading edged lower to 83.7, from its first quarter reading of 86.2, but Canadians are still more optimistic than Americans, who […]

By Staff |June 9, 2011

2 min read

Economics

Lower inflation hints at later rate hike

Weekly Pulse: Employment data ruins the party

Who’s to blame for global inflation?

Jobs reports: A tale of two countries

The Weekly Pulse: Case for a can kicking

Economy loses steam, remains on track

Global investor confidence falls

U.S. consumers holding back

Consumer confidence dips

Seizing global opportunities