Bank of Canada Raises Interest Rate; a Mixed Bag for Investors
Published July 20, 2017 |
Interest Rates Nudge Higher The Bank of Canada raised its key lending rate one-quarter of a percentage point to 0.75% from 0.50%. This represents the first rate hike since 2010. The big question is, is this good or bad news for Canadian investors?1 The Bank of Canada initially lowered its interest rate to prevent the Read More
U.S. Factory Orders Fall in May for Second Consecutive Month
Published July 14, 2017 |
U.S. Factory Orders Fall More Than Expected New orders at U.S. factories fell more than expected in May. This is causing concern over the strength of the manufacturing sector, since manufacturing is responsible for around 12% of the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. factory orders fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.8% Read More
Loonie Strengthens Against Greenback as Bank of Canada Hints at Rate Hike
Published July 6, 2017 |
Loonie Climbs as Canadian Economy Strengthens The Canadian loonie has been rebounding against the U.S. dollar after reporting solid first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data and hints from the Bank of Canada that a rate hike could be just around the corner. While this suggests the Canadian economy is improving, there is a downside. Read More
Home Capital Group’s Share Price Rebounds After $30.5 Million Settlement with OSC
Published June 22, 2017 |
Settlement Generates Confidence in Subprime Mortgages Home Capital Group surprised the markets when it announced it reached a settlement to pay $30.5 million to settle allegations from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and a class-action lawsuit.1 The move should help save the beleaguered mortgage lender and breathe life back into the subprime mortgage industry. On Read More
Oil Prices Slide Despite Production Cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia
Published June 15, 2017 |
Oil Prices Slide as Supply Glut Remains While many expected oil prices to rebound after Saudi Arabia and Russia announced in May 2017 plans to extend their production cuts initially announced in November 2016,0 this simply hasn’t happened. Since Saudi Arabia and Russia announced plans to extend oil production cuts in May, crude prices have Read More
Dow at Record Levels as Markets Shrug off Weak Economic Data and Geopolitical Tensions
Published June 8, 2017 |
Stocks at Record Levels Despite Fears of a Recession On June 2, 2017, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) reached a record high closing level of 21,206.29. It was also the first intraday record (21,225.04) since March 1, 2017. On top of that, it was the second consecutive day in which the Dow notched up Read More
George Soros’s Short Bets Suggest a Stock Market Collapse
Published June 1, 2017 |
Soros Takes Bearish Position; Bets Stock Market Will Tumble George Soros, the founder of the $4.5-billion Soros Fund Management LLC, is betting the stock market is going to fall. Soros does not believe U.S. stocks can sustain the Trump rally and expects the S&P 500 and broader markets, which are at record levels, to experience Read More