Are we still best off sticking with positions in well-run Canadian trusts and dividend-paying corporations? Are we close enough to a turn and are values truly compelling enough to weather further potential pain, or are we better off dumping everything as staying in cash until there’s a real sign of a turn? Read More

The details of Korea’s February trade data offer a small bit of hope that the decline in global trade is slowing, or at least stabilizing. South Korea’s trade numbers are widel watched because they’re the first foreign figures released and usually provide a good indication of foreign trade and manufacturing activity in other Asian economies. Read More

Coal-fired power plants still produce roughly half of America’s electricity, however. Mr. Obama’s clean coal push is a tacit acknowledgement that achieving energy independence without it is literally impossible, even with an unprecedented effort in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Read More

Coal-fired power plants still produce roughly half of America’s electricity, however. Mr. Obama’s clean coal push is a tacit acknowledgement that achieving energy independence without it is literally impossible, even with an unprecedented effort in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Read More

Good companies backed by strong businesses haven’t been immune from the selling. But they are making it through as businesses, and that means they’ll be among the first to recover when the cycle turns, as has been the case in the aftermath of every bear market in history. Read More

Good companies backed by strong businesses haven’t been immune from the selling. But they are making it through as businesses, and that means they’ll be among the first to recover when the cycle turns, as has been the case in the aftermath of every bear market in history. Read More

The first quarter numbers from the Big Five will likely reveal continuing profitability, but that won’t persist unless the root cause of the global meltdown is addressed. First comes the rescue of the US banking system, then we can talk about stabilization and recovery for Canada’s and the world’s economy. Read More

The current economic situation will challenge all financial institutions. Canadian banks have handled the first wave--the financial crisis--relatively well. The second wave--a serious economic downturn--will hit both capital and profits, but the Canadian banking system is probably better positioned than most others to ride it out. Read More

While there will be no public address or state dinner, that Mr. Obama is making his first trip abroad to Ottawa illustrates the importance of the US-Canada relationship. It is, after all, the most significant bilateral trade arrangement in the world; two-way trade in goods and services amounted to more than CAD700 billion in 2006, an average of about CAD1.3 million in trade per minute across the border. The combined Canada-US market represents more than 425 million consumers with a combined GDP of more than USD11.4 trillion. Read More