Interest rate

Decorative pattern

BMO reignites mortgage war

Barely two months after the fires were put out, BMO has reignited the cooling embers of the mortgage war among Canada’s largest banks. The bank announced, effective today, it is dropping the interest rates on a five-year mortgage to a historic 2.99%, a reduction of 50 basis points on the existing rate. The rate on […]

By Vikram Barhat |March 8, 2012

2 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

Credit Unions join the price war

The race to offer lower mortgage rates just got more intense as credit unions decided to jump into the fray. Barely a week after BMO triggered a price war by dropping the interest rate on a five-year fixed-rate mortgage to an unprecedented limited-time offer of 2.99%, followed by TD Bank and RBC with similar offers, […]

By Staff |January 23, 2012

2 min read

Decorative pattern

Fed to offer interest rate forecasts

In a major shift, the U.S. Federal Reserve will start updating the public four times a year on how long it plans to keep short-term interest rates at record lows, according to minutes from its December policy meeting.

By Wire services |January 3, 2012

2 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

Lower inflation gives BoC rate flexibility

The rise in prices Canadians pay for most goods began to moderate last month, dipping below 3% for the first time since July and beginning what analysts expect is a trend to lower inflation.

By Wire services |November 18, 2011

3 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

Bond manager sees looming inflation

In the months following Lehman Brothers' implosion, investors stampeded into bonds, with U.S. Treasuries the issue of choice. Since then, market watchers have repeatedly warned of an impending slaughter, as interest rates would eventually have to rise. While that rise may be inevitable, it is not coming any time soon.

By Staff |October 7, 2011

3 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

Recession was easy, recovery will be tough

Canada managed to navigate its way through the Great Recession of 2008 without much damage, but the time for self-congratulation may be over. There are a number of hazards on the horizon, including the withdrawal of government stimulus, rising interest rates and the stubbornly strong loonie is stifling exports. Canada—indeed, the world—still has some challenges […]

By Vikram Barhat |June 8, 2011

4 min read

Decorative pattern

Inflation pummels bond market

Inflation expectations are on the rise in Canada. It seems its time for investors to ditch the bond market and dive into an equity market primed for plum pickings. “As the result of the inflation expectation rising, we will at some point in time see bond yields rise,” says Paul Taylor, chief investment officer, BMO […]

By Vikram Barhat |May 30, 2011

3 min read

Decorative pattern

Market Insights

Coxe sees hot assets for cold turkey market

Kicking a bad habit is always painful. Anyone who has given up smoking knows the challenges. Now imagine quitting a habit that has propped up the global economy: incredibly lax monetary policy. Think it will be easy? Renowned commodities analyst Don Coxe says it will be like giving up heroin. Recounting the use of heroin […]

By Staff |April 11, 2011

3 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

Bank of Canada holds the line

The Bank of Canada has held the line on interest rates, maintaining the trendsetting Bank Rate at 1.25%. “The global economic recovery is proceeding at a somewhat faster pace than the Bank had anticipated, although risks remain elevated,” the Bank said in a statement. Both the U.S. and Europe are recovering, while some emerging markets […]

By Steven Lamb |January 18, 2011

2 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

“Debt diet” starts today

This morning’s announcement by the Finance Minister is the start of a government program to put Canadians on a “debt diet”, according to CIBC World Markets. While this may remove some liquidity from the market, it should make economic growth more sustainable in 2011. “Canada’s economic mix has been the polar opposite of the U.S., […]

By Steven Lamb |January 17, 2011

2 min read

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