Concerns over rising oil and food prices and persistent strength in the loonie are taking away some of the swagger in Canada’s business community, the Bank of Canada says. The central bank said Monday its new spring business outlook survey shows firms remain bullish about the future, but less so than three months ago. Firms […]

Several of Canada’s big banks are raising most of their fixed-term mortgage rates ahead of the busy spring real estate market. TD Canada Trust (TSX:TD) TD said the biggest increases will be for mortgages with terms of five to 10 years, which will all go up by 0.35 percentage points starting Tuesday. The move was […]

When Sean Fitzgibbons needed a short-term loan last year to cover his daughter’s first year of university, his wife’s master’s degree and a bathroom renovation, the real estate industry veteran knew exactly what to do. Mr. Fitzgibbons took out a bank-structured home equity line of credit, or HELOC, a form of financing that’s zoomed in […]

After sifting through Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s latest keep-the-opposition-from-voting-us-out budget, I’m sorely tempted to adopt the analytical approach of Carl Weinberg, the estimable chief economy watcher for High Frequency Economics in Valhalla, NY.    The budget does not merit analysis, because there’s going to be an election anyway, he told clients long before Flaherty tabled […]

Cheryl Hutton and Aaron Coates always thought getting a mortgage would be a challenge. But within 18 days of visiting a mortgage broker, they were able to close a deal on a new townhouse in Calgary without a hitch. Now in their early thirties, both have careers in the theatre, something Ms. Hutton says has […]

Recent tragic events in Japan follow a string of global catastrophes that could slow economic recovery in the short term, but should not push either the Canadian or global economies back into recession, according to some of Canada’s top economists. “Obviously horrible things have happened (in Japan) that will take some of the growth out […]

If you’re thinking of selling your house to make a little money before rising interest rates squeeze the real estate market, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is you’re almost certainly making money because home prices in Canada have been rising for the past few decades, particularly in the greater Vancouver area. […]

important to marketing, but there is overwhelming new evidence to underscore what impact an online presence can mean – in particular to Canadian consumers – and to the professionals trying to win their business.   According to a new poll released from marketing survey company comScore, Canada is the global leader in terms of time […]

at a faster pace than that of our American cousins, buoyed by a strong real estate market and stronger stocks pumped up by commodities prices.   “The rollicking stock market helped boost the net worth of American households in [the fourth quarter], though they remain nearly $9 trillion (or 13%) poorer than before the credit […]

assuming rising American demand for consumer goods and autos, according to a report issued Friday by Royal Bank.   Economists at the bank predict net exports such as cars and commodities will boost economic growth this year and next, as those industries account for two-thirds of Canada’s goods sold abroad.   The report from RBC […]