European Crisis

European banks eager for ECB credit

Having tasted cheap liquidity in December, the now-not-so-shy European banks are champing at the bit to grab twice as much of the ECB’s second emergency funding supply on February 29.

By Vikram Barhat |January 31, 2012

1 min read

Market Insights

Tune out the noise, invest in North America

The average retail investor is notorious for trying to time the market—and for doing a remarkably poor job at it. Rather than wait for incontrovertible evidence of a bull market, your clients should probably be getting back into risk assets now.

By Staff |January 26, 2012

2 min read

Market Insights

Canada feeling the European heat

The sovereign debt crisis in Europe has rattled global markets and while there is no serious threat of contagion to Canada, the impact is certainly being felt here, says Jeremy Rudin, assistant deputy minister, financial sector policy branch, department of finance, Canada.

By Vikram Barhat |January 26, 2012

3 min read

Market Insights

U.S. banks: Smaller and restrained

U.S. earnings season kicked into high gear last week, and with many of the U.S. investment banks reporting weak results, Wall Street is wondering if this is a temporary slump or if they will soon get back to their high flying days.

By David Andrews |January 20, 2012

4 min read

European recession: The only way around is through

The year 2011 was characterized by a string of bad news from the Eurozone. The crisis, now in its third year, has grown worse as policymakers continue to try to contain the floodwaters with pitchforks.

By Vikram Barhat |January 19, 2012

3 min read

BoC keeps rate at 1%

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1% cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1.25% and the deposit rate is .75%. The outlook for the global economy has deteriorated and uncertainty has increased since the Bank released its October Monetary Policy Report (MPR). The sovereign […]

By Staff |January 17, 2012

3 min read

Another worthless rating

On Friday, Standard & Poor’s grabbed the economic and political world’s attention by downgrading the long-term sovereign debt of France. Not only has France lost its AAA rating, but it has also been given a “negative” outlook; a similar fate befell Austria.

By Staff |January 16, 2012

2 min read

A new wrinkle for Europe

A radical overhaul may be in order for the state pensions of the world’s most developed countries. There is already talk of scaling back benefits, but to do this across the board would be tragic. A better approach would be to make all state-backed pensions means-tested, rather than universal.

By Staff |January 11, 2012

1 min read

European Crisis

European banks eager for ECB credit

Tune out the noise, invest in North America

Canada feeling the European heat

U.S. banks: Smaller and restrained

United States of Europe will cure Continent

European recession: The only way around is through

BoC keeps rate at 1%

Another worthless rating

A new wrinkle for Europe

Europe tops housing among bank concerns