Economic Indicators

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

Goodbye 2008; now brace yourself for 2009

While almost all investors will be happy to see the end of 2008, consensus continues to build that the first half of 2009 won’t be much better. The recession that’s already taken hold of the U.S. economy will reach into Canada before a modest recovery begins in the second half of the new year, according […]

By Steven Lamb |December 31, 2008

3 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

January rally too hard to call

The January effect, the well-known historical phenomenon where stocks (particularly small-cap ones) rally in the wake of a buying spree from last year’s tax-loss selling, has many perplexed this year. In most years, it’s a fairly dependable phenomenon, but recent market conditions have bucked trends rather than followed them, leaving the prognosis for a January […]

By Mark Noble |December 24, 2008

4 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

Forecasts for 2009 remain bleak

The Canadian economy is in recession and will experience virtually no growth in 2009, according to an economic forecast out of RBC Economics. The weakness of the second half of 2008 has already pretty much wiped out any gains made earlier in the year, slashing growth to just 0.6%. “We expect the slowdown in Canada […]

By Steven Lamb |December 22, 2008

3 min read

Decorative pattern

Economic Indicators

When Goldilocks fed the bears

In a world where short-term interest rates are rapidly approaching zero, with the U.S. Federal Reserve mimicking Japan, and Britain and the European Central Bank expected to follow, the Bank of Canada’s successful approach of inflation targeting has reached a crossroads. Ironically, the BoC, along with other central banks, may be the victim of its […]

By Scot Blythe |December 19, 2008

7 min read