Some cynics will argue that the annual G8 Summit is nothing more than a chance for world leaders to eat and drink well in a scenic resort area. Read More

All three major indexes posted weekly declines. The Nasdaq Composite was the biggest loser, down 2.1 percent. The S&P 500 lost 1.3 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.5 percent. It was also a brutal first half. The Dow slipped 14.4 percent, the Nasdaq gave up 13.8 percent and the S&P 500 shed 12.8 percent. Read More

With oil cruising above $140 per barrel and natural gas at its highest levels since late 2005, it’s hard to imagine that there could be any energy-related sectors that aren’t flying higher. Read More

“Since the April Monetary Policy Report (MPR), economic developments have been broadly in line with expectations. However, the balance of risks to the Bank's April projection for inflation in Canada has shifted slightly to the upside.” With that statement, the Bank of Canada (BoC) left its key rate unchanged at 3 percent, flummoxing economists who forecast a 25-basis-point cut. Read More

Coal is public enemy No. 1 for most environmental activist groups. Certainly, there’s some logic behind that opposition; after all, coal plants emit more sulphur dioxide, mercury and nitrous oxides than other fossil fuels. Read More

Back in March, the Bank of Canada (BoC) statement announcing a 50-basis-point interest-rate cut told of “clear signs that the US economy is likely to experience a deeper and more prolonged slowdown than had been projected in January.” Read More

In the weakening North American economy, the stock market punishes even the healthiest trusts. Even taking a look at underlying numbers isn't enough as the market reacts to numbers that best fit the current mood. But any trust that continues to increase distributions will eventually post higher gains. Read More

Despite the recent spike in oil prices, the majority of Canadian oil and gas producers remain under pressure. But focusing on healthy businesses has kept investors afloat during the flood of sector turmoil. Read More

Will yesterday’s global equity market bounce evolve into a sustainable rally, or will it prove nothing more than a short-covering flare, as the ultra-purist market observers predict? The reality is that global markets, measured by the MSCI All Country World Index, reached a low at the end of January. And since then, they’re up 6 percent in US dollar terms. Read More

The first quarter was a tough quarter for most sectors of the market, including energy stocks. Nonetheless, there were some notable bright spots including agriculture plays leveraged to the explosion in global demand for biofuels. Read More