Last week, new U.S. unemployment benefits claims dropped more than expected, reaching their lowest level in more than two years. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell to an adjusted 388,000, the lowest reading since July 2008, the Labor Department said today. This was well below economists’ expectations of 415,000. The prior week’s figure was […]
The private sector will see an employment increase in 2011, according to a survey from CareerBuilder.ca, released on Dec. 29. Thirty-two percent of Canadian employers surveyed said they would be adding full-time positions in the new year. That’s up from 29% in 2010 and 18% in 2009. And 20% of respondents said they will increase […]
The Canadian dollar hit parity against the U.S. dollar on Dec. 28, rising from an opening of US$0.9940 to US$1.001. The loonie has hit parity a number of times in 2010 as foreign central banks seek to diversify their holdings and as a result of a “death grip” on the U.S. dollar. Bank of Canada […]
Canada’s real exports remain 15% below their pre-recession peak, struggling under the weight of a strong loonie and a production market that is geared more toward strained U.S. households than emerging markets, according to a new report from CIBC World Markets. Canada’s export lag comes as “quarterly U.S. exports have regained virtually all of the […]
Domestic spending is slowing and so is Canada’s economic growth for the rest of 2010 and 2011, according to the Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Outlook – Autumn 2010. “Canada’s recovery is further along than many other developed economies, especially when considering the rapid rebound in employment. But the strong rebound in late 2009 and […]
The federal government has announced it will scale back previously announced increases to Employment Insurance (EI) premiums, after intense pressure from unions and businesses. The employee-paid premium will rise by five cents per $100 of insurable earnings, starting in 2011, and 10 cents for subsequent years. The employer-paid premium will rise by seven cents […]
Despite a rally in equities, investor confidence still fell in the U.S. and Europe in September, according to research by State Street Global Markets. The data from its monthly Investor Confidence Index shows that globally, investor confidence fell four points from 92 to 88, from August to September. The drop was most pronounced in North […]
There’s plenty of reason to be optimistic, but the reality is that defined contribution (DC) pension plans are in for a few tough years, Aron Gampel, Scotiabank’s chief economist, said Wednesday, at the third annual DC Investment Forum in Toronto. Canada is well positioned to emerge without too many deep wounds from the global […]
Although risk is growing, UBS Investment Management believes the U.S. economy will struggle on without actually slipping into negative growth. UBS is still favouring credit sensitive sectors for the incremental income they offer compared with the Treasury agency sector. According to UBS’s September fixed income update, the attractiveness of bonds is having an abrasive effect […]
Possible investment opportunities to scope out in 2010.