Sebastien Lavoie

Macklem Seen as Probable Carney Bank of Canada Successor

Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Tiff Macklem has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Mark Carney as head of the central bank as it grapples with slowing growth and record consumer debt levels.

Canada’s Dollar Weakens as Carney Named Bank of England Governor

The Canadian dollar fell from almost a two-week high against its U.S. counterpart as Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney was named chief of the Bank of England, spurring speculation over who will replace him in Ottawa.

Quebec Raises Taxes and Cuts Spending to Reach Budget Balance

Quebec Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau said the province will keep a pledge to eliminate its deficit for the first time in four years by raising income and consumption taxes and capping infrastructure spending, in a budget that drew immediate criticism from opposition lawmakers.

Canadian Economy Shrinks 0.1% in July to Post First Decline in 11 Months

Canada’s gross domestic product shrank for the first time in 11 months in July, as retailers, manufacturers and builders posted declines.

Canada Retail Sales Tumble 2% in April, Drop 5 Times More Than Expected

Canadian retail sales in April fell more than forecast, reversing most of the previous month’s gain, on declines in new car and clothing receipts.

Canada Jobless Rate Falls to 7.6% as Youth Quit Workforce, Employers Hire

Canada’s jobless rate fell in November to the lowest since January 2009, as employment increased and young people left the labor force.

Inflation-Linked Bonds Outstrip TIPS as Rate Increases End: Canada Credit

Canada’s real-return bonds are outperforming other debt as investors buy inflation protection after the Bank of Canada halted its interest-rate increases and the U.S. central bank signaled further debt purchases.

Canadian Economy Cooling Raises Odds of Central Bank Interest-Rate Pause

Employment and housing figures released today confirm that Canada’s economy is cooling faster than the central bank had forecast, indicating the Bank of Canada will refrain from raising interest rates until next year, economists said.

Canada to Reject World’s Only Price-Level Target, Survey Says

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will probably keep the central bank’s mandate of targeting inflation at 2 percent, rejecting alternatives, including the world’s first price-level objective, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Canada Sovereign Bonds Lagging Behind Only Greece, Portugal: Canada Credit

Canadian bonds, the worst performing sovereign-debt market the past three months after Greece and Portugal, may fall further as investors speculate policy makers will raise interest rates as early as June.

"For bondholders, it's quite reassuring that Mr. Marceau intends to balance the books quickly and to keep the long-term plans of debt reduction."

- Sebastien Lavoie on Nov 20, 2012

Death Toll Passes 90 After Oklahoma Tornado Hits Suburb

Yen Weakens as Grains Drop With Gold; S&P 500 Fluctuates

John Malone Buys Irish ‘Green Banana’ as Castle Prices Fall

U.S. Stocks Little Changed as Investors Weigh Stimulus

Gold, Silver Fall on Bets Fed May Cut U.S. Bond Purchases