Heading into 2014, equity markets from a global perspective are not overvalued, but they’re not cheap either, according to a report from Manulife Asset Management.
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is proposing that the federal government issue ultra-long bonds—bonds that have a maturity of 40 years or more.
It was what it didn’t say that mattered most. Last month’s Bank of Canada statement cast Canada’s short-term prospects for growth in doubt while leaving rates untouched.
Canadian equities, which rallied strongly in the third quarter as gold and oil prices rose on geopolitical tensions, are expected to decline slightly over the remainder of the year.
Bond market challenges are sending pension plans large and small in search of alternative strategies
It looked as if the long wait for higher interest rates was finally over back in May. That’s when U.S. Federal Reserve Chief, Ben Bernanke, made comments heard by bond investors around the world: he hinted the Fed had imminent plans to slow down or “taper” its historic bond buying program.
The past few years have been difficult for DB pension plans in Canada. Continued equity market volatility and, until recently, extremely low interest rates have made financial management of DB plans extremely challenging, especially for those subject to solvency valuations.
Canada’s Big Six banks have regained lost ground in institutional fixed-income trading.
While 2013 has been challenging for emerging market debt, the picture should improve in the long term.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch has raised its forecast on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields following positive jobs data on Friday.