Hub International Limited, the Chicago-based parent of Hub Financial, has acquired the assets of Phoenix Insurance Group Grande Prairie Inc., an Alberta-based insurance brokerage and part of the overall Phoenix Insurance Group. The firm will become part of Hub International Barton (Hub Barton) within the Hub International Canada West region. The three partners of the […]
Soaring commodity prices helped drive Canadian equity funds higher in 2010, marking a second consecutive year of gains, according to data from Morningstar Canada. In fact, all but two of Morningstar’s 44 fund categories ended the year with positive returns. The top performing fund category was the Precious Metals Equity Fund Index, which gained a […]
There were a lot of great additions to the English language in 2010. Sarah Palin gave us “refudiate”. The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico gave us several new entries, including “top kill” and “junk shot”. But the catchphrase of the year in financial circles was missed by many in the year-end lists: […]
Desjardins Financial Group has struck a deal to acquire Western Financial Group, the largest insurance and financial services retailer in Western Canada, for $443 million. Desjardins is paying a 70% premium to Western Financial’s closing share price on the TSX on December 22, 2010. “This transaction will allow us to accelerate our business development in […]
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty appears set to discard the option of enhancing the Canada Pension Plan, heading into the meeting with his provincial counterparts in Kananaskis, Alberta. Last week Flaherty proposed a private sector solution to Canada’s future retirement funding crisis, which would allow workers without a pension plan to contribute to a pooled […]
The federal government has proposed changes to the Income Tax Act provisions governing real estate investment trusts, which were exempted from the taxation treatment imposed upon other income trusts. “Our government is committed to providing clarity in the application of the REIT rules,” said Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. “These changes take into account constructive comments […]
BMO Financial Group has announced a massive expansion of its U.S. presence with the $4.1 billion (U.S.) purchase of Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, a diversified financial services company.
The Canadian economy will strengthen in the new year, although it will fall short of historical post-recession recoveries with growth held to just 3.2%, according to RBC Economics.
Investment managers expect 2010 will end on a high note, which should continue into 2011, according to Russell Investments' quarterly survey.
Here's some news to reassure Mark Carney: nearly two thirds (64%) of higher income Canadians plan to reduce their debt levels over the coming 12 months.