Category Archives: Blog

Gold Prices at 12-Month High on Strong Momentum Gold prices recently hit $1,350 an ounce on mounting concerns about the strength of the U.S. economy, the weak U.S. dollar, and escalating tensions with North Korea. Bullion may be a at a 12-month high and some analysts are predicting a pull-back, but ongoing economic and political […]

Central Bank Surprises Markets, Raises Key Lending Rate The Bank of Canada raised its key lending rate on September 5 to one percent, up from a rate hike to 0.75% in July. The two rate hikes in 2017 erase the two rate cuts that came in 2015 in response to plunging oil prices.1 “Recent economic […]

U.S. Economic Outlook Dire if Government Shuts Down  Standard & Poor has warned of a dire outcome for the U.S. economy if the White House and lawmakers fail to reach a deal to keep the government operating and avert a default. Because of the urgency to address the flooding in Houston, the likelihood of a […]

iStock.com/Photobuay Equities in Nosebleed Territory The U.S. stock market, the biggest in the world, continues to notch record gains, and this is making investors nervous. Is the stock market overvalued or are investor fears unfounded? According to a recent survey, approximately 36% of investment managers think the U.S. stock market is undervalued or fairly valued […]

Interest Rates Nudge Higher The Bank of Canada raised its key lending rate one-quarter of a percentage point to 0.75% from 0.50%. This represents the first rate hike since 2010. The big question is, is this good or bad news for Canadian investors?1 The Bank of Canada initially lowered its interest rate to prevent the […]

U.S. Factory Orders Fall More Than Expected New orders at U.S. factories fell more than expected in May. This is causing concern over the strength of the manufacturing sector, since manufacturing is responsible for around 12% of the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. factory orders fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.8% […]

Loonie Climbs as Canadian Economy Strengthens The Canadian loonie has been rebounding against the U.S. dollar after reporting solid first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data and hints from the Bank of Canada that a rate hike could be just around the corner. While this suggests the Canadian economy is improving, there is a downside. […]

Settlement Generates Confidence in Subprime Mortgages Home Capital Group surprised the markets when it announced it reached a settlement to pay $30.5 million to settle allegations from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and a class-action lawsuit.1 The move should help save the beleaguered mortgage lender and breathe life back into the subprime mortgage industry. On […]

Oil Prices Slide as Supply Glut Remains While many expected oil prices to rebound after Saudi Arabia and Russia announced in May 2017 plans to extend their production cuts initially announced in November 2016,0 this simply hasn’t happened. Since Saudi Arabia and Russia announced plans to extend oil production cuts in May, crude prices have […]

Stocks at Record Levels Despite Fears of a Recession On June 2, 2017, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) reached a record high closing level of 21,206.29. It was also the first intraday record (21,225.04) since March 1, 2017. On top of that, it was the second consecutive day in which the Dow notched up […]