Economic Indicators

Canadian economy beats BOC forecast

Canada’s economy which came back on track in early 2010 started steaming ahead by the last quarter of 2010, according to a report by Statistics Canada. Surging exports (4.0%) and strong consumers demand (1.2%). emerged as the leading growth engines that fuelled a 3.3% annualized rate of growth in the fourth quarter, up from 1.8% […]

By Vikram Barhat |February 28, 2011

2 min read

Economic Indicators

Arab unrest latest threat to European markets

Political unrest has raged across the Middle East and North Africa for much of 2011. Aside from the tragic human cost in the region, the knock-on effects pose a threat well beyond the Arab world, which could derail the global economic recovery. Oil prices have spiked around the world, although promises from Saudi Arabia to […]

By Steven Lamb |February 25, 2011

3 min read

Economic Indicators

Homeownership costs ease

Clients saving for a new home purchase can breathe a sigh of relief—the cost of ownership eased for the second quarter in a row, according to RBC Economics’ Housing Trends and Affordability report. During the last quarter of 2010, the national reading of the RBC Housing Affordability Measure declined between 0.4% and 0.8% across the […]

By Steven Lamb |February 24, 2011

2 min read

Economic Indicators

Smaller Asian markets come to the fore: Study

Senior investment executives from around the world are moving their bets to small Asian economies, having cashed some of their chips in traditional emerging markets, according to RBC Capital Markets Survey.

By Vikram Barhat |February 14, 2011

3 min read

Looking beyond the U.S.

A fragile recovery, high unemployment and household indebtedness make America a friend in need. But as a country known more for permanent interests than friends, the U.S. is being increasingly seen as a poor choice for friendship.

By Vikram Barhat |February 10, 2011

5 min read

Canada beats U.S. in income gains

A new report from CIBC World Markets shows Canada’s gross national income (GNI) has been rising faster than that of the U.S. since the turn of the century. GNI, the report says, is a better indicator of the amount of wealth an economy produces. “In real GDP terms, Canada has still trailed [the U.S.]. But […]

By Staff |January 28, 2011

4 min read

Commodities rally continues

It may come as no surprise, but 2010 was a very strong year for commodity prices. How strong? The Scotiabank Commodity Price Index, which tracks the price of 32 commodities, surged 17.8% on the year. The index capped the year with a hefty month-over-month gain of 5.5% in December. Since the cyclical low, reached in […]

By Steven Lamb |January 27, 2011

3 min read

Economic Indicators

Canadian economy beats BOC forecast

Arab unrest latest threat to European markets

Homeownership costs ease

Smaller Asian markets come to the fore: Study

Looking beyond the U.S.

Finances, economic outlook worrying Canadians

Small businesses rise as bankruptcies fall

CIBC: Business bankruptcies at record low

Canada beats U.S. in income gains

Commodities rally continues