Latest news in Research and Markets

Ontario

Ontario deficit ballooning to $9.8B next year amid slow economic growth

The government also proposed amendments to support a permanent target-benefit pension framework

Governor Tiff Macklem and senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers

Need to improve Canadian productivity has reached emergency level: BoC

Canada needs to focus on appropriate training and education, says senior deputy governor

Global money market assets surged: Fitch

High rates and U.S. banking turmoil drove flight to money market funds

Canada’s business population shrinks

First decline since 2017 bodes ill for employment prospects, NBF says

Sliced pumpkin pie above view on blue background. People grabbing slices of cake stock photo

Are your diversifiers working for you?

60/40 portfolio is still hard to beat: Morningstar

Retail sales

Retail sales down in January as new car sales fell

However, core retail sales came in higher than many economists expected

A strong finish for RRSP season

Mutual fund sales turn positive, ETF assets hit record heights

commercial real estate

Lifecos face real estate headwinds: DBRS

Earnings hurt by declining property values, rising credit losses

investment growth

Businesses worried about ESG fraud: KPMG poll

Almost a quarter of the surveyed organizations experienced ESG fraud

Heavy weight

Household debt continues to swell: StatsCan

Credit card balances rise as mortgage growth slows

Fed foresees three rate cuts this year but fewer cuts in 2025

Officials kept their benchmark rate unchanged for a fifth straight time, slightly raised inflation forecasts

home financing

Global real estate sector outlook still dark: Moody’s

High interest rates, slowing growth pose major challenges

Bank of Canada note

Bank of Canada’s notes show bank expects to cut rates this year

According to summary of most recent deliberations, governing council is split on the timing

Canadian flag

Subdued growth expected across Canada in 2024: Conference Board

Newfoundland and Labrador pegged for GDP growth of 1.5%, the strongest in the country

  • By: IE Staff
  • March 20, 2024 March 20, 2024
  • 12:55
UK inflation image

U.K. inflation falls by more than expected in February

With the cost-of-living crisis abating, the Bank of England expected to start cutting interest rates soon

inflation

Inflation slows in February, unexpectedly

The report is encouraging for the Bank of Canada, economist says

Yellow arrow

Bank of Japan hikes for first time in 17 years

The BOJ ends its negative interest rate policy

Federal Reserve building

Fed likely to preach patience as markets look ahead to rate cuts

Federal Reserve officials are expected to play it safe when they meet this week

Arrow up

Economists expect inflation rate ticked up above 3% last month

Higher energy prices are driving the increase

home financing

National home sales in February up nearly 20% compared with year ago

Buyers are showing more optimism than last year

Arrow cube

Wholesale sales rose 0.1% in January

For a fourth consecutive month, the personal and household goods subsector also rose

home building

February housing starts increased 14% from January, finds CMHC

Slower housing starts have been expected this year as borrowing conditions and labour shortages affect the pace of building

Apartment building

Renters have harder time accumulating wealth: RBC economist

Homeowners' net worth has reached greater levels in comparison

Quantum computer

Financial services execs investing in generative AI: report

Many professionals were also concerned about cybersecurity threats

Heavy weight

Households owed $1.79 for every dollar of disposable income in Q4

Data from Statistics Canada is lower in Q4 than it was in Q3