The Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA), a public/private initiative to improve Toronto’s competitiveness, is eager to work with governments to make Toronto a leader in the global financial industry. Janet Ecker, president of TFSA, welcomes the provincial budget while confirming the group’s commitment to help Toronto grow as a financial services hub. “Having the Ontario […]
Contrary to suggestions by naysayers, the global private equity industry weathered the great recession rather stoically, and is now poised to see a marked increase in activity going forward, says David M. Rubenstein, cofounder and managing director of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. As the keynote speaker at the […]
Securities regulators in B.C. and Manitoba have raised the alarm about dipping into retirement savings for questionable investments that promise excellent returns and tax benefits. So-called “unlocking” investment schemes that sound too good to be true really are too good to be true. These investments typically promise debt reduction through new sources of income, immediate […]
Strong rebalancing over the next two years will steer the global economy toward a safer and sounder footing, but concerns linger, according to the latest report from Desjardins Group’s economics department. The report says many countries — including the U.S. and Canada — have shown improved economic performances recently, although to date this recovery has […]
An increasing number of young Canadian couples are choosing to keep their fiscal matters divorced, according to a new study by RBC. The study, which focused on couples between 18 and 35 years of age, reveals that a third (34%) of them keep completely separate bank accounts and financial portfolios owing primarily to the need […]
The current pattern of volatility in global currency markets and the recent rally in the loonie against the U.S. dollar are having a menacing effect on the investors with exposure to foreign markets. Currencies are much more volatile today than they have been in ages — a function of world-wide changes in economic or financial […]
The vast majority of Canadian investors don’t know a large portion of their retirement income can be generated from investment growth, according to a survey by Russell Investments and Harris/Decima Retirement Research. Most respondents (88%) were oblivious to the possibility that about 60% of their investment income could come from growth that occurs during retirement. […]
The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA Institute) is voicing staunch support for proposed regulatory reform bill in the U.S. The proposed Senate Banking Committee bill addresses critical issues such as systemic risks, bank regulatory responsibilities, trading risks, and other considerations for investor priorities. “Having a properly structured oversight body for systemic risk is critical,” says […]
The poor performance of money market funds (MMFs) is robbing investors of between $300 million and $500 million, says a report by the Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights (FAIR Canada). The report, titled Canadian Money Market Funds—Zero Returns says Canadians hold $56 billion worth of money market funds, most of which are not […]
Improved credit markets, increased domestic spending and a robust stimulus investment lead the charge as Canada’s economic growth picks up pace, says a report by RBC Economics. “An economic recovery is solidly taking root in Canada with the full impact of stimulus spending, historically low interest rates and improved credit markets all taking effect this […]