Economic Indicators

Soft confidence threatens U.S. recovery

The U.S. government has bought itself some breathing room on its financing, but the debate and brinkmanship leading up to the deal has crushed the nation’s already fragile consumer confidence. Slightly more than half (54%) of Americans say the debate weakened their confidence in the economy, according to the RBC Consumer Outlook Index for the […]

By Staff |August 4, 2011

2 min read

Economic Indicators

U.S. debt: Not off the hook yet

Debt Crisis Update Washington may have reached a deal on its debt ceiling, but it still can’t catch a break from ratings agencies. Moody’s Investor Services has re-affirmed the U.S. government’s Aaa rating, but has changed its outlook on the world’s biggest economy to “negative”. Moody’s had placed the rating under review on July 13. […]

By Staff |August 3, 2011

2 min read

Economic Indicators

Weekly Pulse: Running Out of Time

The weather around here has been pretty hot lately but it’s been even hotter in Washington, D.C., where Democrats and Republicans have been locked in a pitched battle over the debt ceiling, the credit cap that Congress puts on the national debt. In what is normally a mundane legislative process worthy of C-Span television coverage, […]

By David Andrews |August 2, 2011

5 min read

Economic Indicators

U.S. debt drama: Financial experts still hopeful

Debt Crisis Update

By Vikram Barhat |July 29, 2011

3 min read

Debt crisis portfolio outlook

We are less than a week away from the self-imposed August 2nd deadline for the United States to increase its debt ceiling from the current $14.3 trillion. The United States has imposed a debt ceiling limit since 1917 as one of several ‘checks & balances’ for its political system.

5 min read

Economic news drives down consumer confidence

Canadian consumer confidence has taken a hit amidst negative reports on employment, continuing high gas prices, the markets, and the yet to be resolved debt crisis, according to the TNS Consumer Confidence Index for July.

By Staff |July 28, 2011

2 min read

U.S. crisis: Fearing the worst, world hopes for best

Having been taken hostage, the world is waiting with bated breath for the outcome of today's vote on a newly modified plan in the hope that a compromise will be reached by the U.S. politicians over raising the country’s $14.3 trillion borrowing limit by the August 2. But the world's also got a nervous eye on the possibility of the current impasse remaining unresolved pushing the U.S. into debt default.

3 min read

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% […]

3 min read

Economic Indicators

Soft confidence threatens U.S. recovery

U.S. debt: Not off the hook yet

Weekly Pulse: Running Out of Time

U.S. debt drama: Financial experts still hopeful

Obama calls for action

Debt crisis portfolio outlook

Economic news drives down consumer confidence

U.S. crisis: Fearing the worst, world hopes for best

Fund managers scrutinize default dilemma

Lower inflation hints at later rate hike