To gauge the health of Wall Street, and, by extension, the U.S. economy, investors often look at how the S&P 500 is doing. The S&P 500 index, or Standard & Poor’s 500 index, tracks the performance of 500 leading companies that are publicly listed in the U.S. It’s weighted by market capitalization and covers roughly […]
Tag Archives: Bank of Canada
12
Jun
Jun
On June 4, the Bank of Canada held its key interest rate at 2.75% for the second consecutive time. The central bank cited “unusual uncertainty” around inflation and unknowns about trade tensions with the U.S. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said that U.S. tariffs continue to be the “biggest headwind” facing Canada. Macklem noted […]
05
Jun
Jun
The Canadian economy surprised to the upside in the first quarter, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing 2.2%. That’s far higher than the 1.5% growth economists had been predicting. There’s a reason for the solid economic growth, though. The big increase was fuelled by a bump in exports as businesses increased their inventory ahead of […]
24
Apr
Apr
On April 16 the Bank of Canada announced it was holding its key policy rate, which directly impacts interest rates, at 2.75%. This was the first pause in interest rates after it announced seven consecutive interest-rate cuts. Financial markets and analysts were split on whether the Bank of Canada should deliver another quarter-point interest-rate cut […]
10
Apr
Apr
There are more than enough reasons to think the Bank of Canada will be forced to lower its key lending rate, which impacts interest rates, more deeply and quickly than previously thought. The biggest threat to the Canadian economy right now is U.S. President Trump’s barrage of tariffs, which has sent global stock markets reeling. […]
27
Mar
Mar
At the March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the Federal Reserve kept its key overnight lending rate, which directly impacts interest rates, in a range of 4.25% to 4.5% for the second consecutive meeting. This came after the Fed announced three consecutive interest rate cuts that began in September 2024. The markets priced in […]
20
Mar
Mar
On March 12, the Bank of Canada cut its key lending rate, which impacts interest rates by 25 basis points from 3% to 2.75% This marks the seventh straight interest rate cut by the central bank since June 2024. Since last summer, the Bank of Canada has reduced its key lending rate by 225 basis […]
13
Mar
Mar
How Are Stock Markets Doing? Canadian stock market volatility has soared over the last number of weeks amid concerns about President Trump’s on-again off-again tariffs. President Trump threatened 25% tariffs on Canadian goods in February but put them on hold until early March, then changed his mind and announced a reprieve until April 2. Since […]
27
Feb
Feb
Canada’s inflation rate went in the wrong direction in January, with the Consumer Price Index ticking up to 1.9%. In December, Canada’s inflation rate was 1.8%. The increase was a little unexpected in light of the national GST holiday that ran from December 14, 2024 to February 15, 2025. It could have been a lot […]
13
Feb
Feb
U.S. President Trump has paused implementing crushing, broad-based 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico until early March, but that doesn’t mean he is taking a break from implementing any tariffs. On February 10, President Trump announced that he would be implementing a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum entering the U.S. This is on […]
