Markets surprisingly calm as earnings season kicks off

Posted on October 14, 2017 by David Kindy

 

Reporting of third quarter earnings got underway this week with hopes that continued improvement in corporate results will deliver another month of positive returns to equities. On a total return (USD) basis, the S&P 500 Composite index has been up each month of 2017 so far. There has never been a full calendar year when this has happened all 12 months. Trading was pretty slow in North America (on Monday Canadian markets were closed for Thanksgiving and U.S. fixed income trading shut for Columbus Day), but news headlines bristled with activity that could normally be expected to move markets.

 

The Catalan push for independence from Spain remained at the forefront of geopolitical news, with investors breathing a sigh of relief when the Catalan leader put off an immediate declaration of independence. Meanwhile tensions between the U.S. and North Korea continued and a diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and Turkey became more heated. Closer to home, U.S. President Donald Trump’s feud with Senator Corker raised concerns that attempts at tax reform will fail, and the President’s comments as NAFTA talks resumed in Washington elevated fears that the trade agreement might collapse. In spite of all these growing risks, markets saw only mild downward pressure on the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields as gold gained. Yields got some support from the Federal Reserve’s September meeting minutes that clearly signaled rates would likely be hiked again in December.

 

In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite index managed a fractional gain in mostly listless trading. Major sectors posting advances included industrials and financials, as well as the “bond proxies” (utilities, real estate, staples) that benefited from the downward drift in interest rates. The health care sector led decliners as Valeant Pharmaceuticals came under pressure once again, and the heavily-weighted energy sector extended the losses seen last week when crude prices dropped on news of growing supplies. Even as energy equities slid, oil prices were recovering after Saudi Arabia said it will cut exports, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries predicted robust demand next year.

 

The advance in equities was even less impressive in the U.S. than in Canada, but all major indices, including the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrials Average, the NASDAQ Composite, and the Russell 2000, notched new all-time highs. The bond proxies led the gainers along with the technology sector. The telecom services sector stood out on the downside as subscriber losses at AT&T highlighted the threat to the industry of consumers “cutting the cord.”

 

As tensions in Spain cooled, European equities got an added lift from strong industrial production numbers for the euro area, particularly Germany. Almost all major European equity indices saw modest gains. In Britain, the most recent round of Brexit talks ended with Prime Minister Theresa May’s hopes for a transition deal before year end looking increasingly unlikely. Asian markets were mostly higher as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its forecast for global economic growth and Chinese shares played catchup after missing out on last week’s global rally due to the Golden Week holidays.

 

What’s ahead next week:

Canada

  • Existing home sales (September)
  • Bank of Canada senior loan officer survey (Q3)
  • Manufacturing sales (August)
  • Consumer price index (September)
  • Retail sales (August)

U.S.

  • Empire manufacturing survey (October)
  • Import price index (September)
  • Industrial production and capacity utilization (September)
  • Housing starts and building permits (September)
  • Conference Board leading index
  • Existing home sales (September)

 

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Money Transmitter Licenses and Canadian First Global Data in the U.S.

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Chris Peterson

Almost every U.S. state requires a state license in order to transmit money into, out of or within the state. These licenses are expensive to acquire and to maintain and establish a financial barrier of entry.

Licensing requirements include the following considerations:

  • applicant’s financial condition
  • applicant’s net worth
  • amount of business for the previous year
  • anticipated business for the upcoming year

The cost of acquiring a license average more than U.S. $175,000 per state and the annual renewal fees on average are more than U.S. $135,000.

In addition to the various state requirements,  money transmitters must also register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of Treasury. Registration is valid for two years before it needs to be renewed. Money transmitters must use the BSA E-Filing System to submit initial registration forms and renewals. There are both civil and criminal penalties for money services businesses that do not register with FinCEN.

In effect, these regulations help to validate the worthiness of the companies that acquire the money transmitter license. Given the financial investment and the corporate strength in order to acquire the licenses, companies that are granted licenses achieve a degree of credibility.

It is believed that it is more difficult for foreign companies to acquire these licenses. However, given Canada’s highly developed, regulated and structured financial industry, Canadian-based companies are afforded a strong reputation internationally.

One Canadian, publicly traded company, First Global Data Inc. (traded as v.fgd on the TMX) is an international financial services technology (“FINTECH”) company. The Company’s two main lines of business are mobile payments and cross border payments. First Global’s proprietary leading edge technology enables the convergence of compliant domestic and cross border payments, shopping, Peer to Peer (“P2P”), Business to Consumer (“B2C”), and Business to Business (“B2B”) payments. First Global enables its strategic partners and clients around the world with our leading edge financial services technology platform.

First Global Data (www.firstglobaldata.com), according to their most recent press release, has acquired 31 money transmitter licenses. “We continue our focus on US wide licensing as the more State licenses First Global has, the larger the market opportunity for our services such as Happy Transfer launched on the WeChat social messaging platform with our China-based partner LianLian; for the Company’s First Global Money international remittances services which delivers into Latin America, India, the Philippines and other very large markets; for domestic USA peer to peer and mobile payment services; and for additional cross border payment services the Company intends to provide to consumers across the USA”, said Andre Itwaru, Chairman and CEO of First Global Data Limited.

This company is  positioned to strategically take advantage of Canada’s financial industry reputation, leveraging our access to the U.S. market and bridging it with Asian demand. With a stock price at under CDN$0.30, I’m curious to see the value of the users it has acquired through partnerships. With Canadian Schedule A banks paying thousands of dollars for credit card customer acquisitions, this company’s value might already be well beyond its stock price.

See related post: First Global Data Appoints Top Notch CFO

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“Golden Week” for equities

Posted on October 8, 2017 by David Kindy

While markets in China and South Korea took the week off for the mid-autumn festival, or “Golden Week” holiday, the S&P 500 Composite index climbed to new highs in four of the five sessions, ending its string of consecutive record-setting trading days at six, the longest such streak since 1997. Canada and most other developed markets tagged along for a nice start to the fourth quarter, a period that traditionally generates the best returns of the year. Spain was a notable exception, where last weekend’s Catalonian independence referendum unnerved investors and pushed the IBEX 35 index to a 15 month low. The tension surrounding the vote also appeared to weigh on the euro and strengthen the U.S. dollar. Disappointing trade data caused the Canadian dollar to retreat further from recent highs, dipping back below 80 U.S. cents.

Most sectors of the S&P/TSX Composite index advanced. The gains were led by the materials sector, especially miners, as copper and other industrial metals saw higher prices. Energy stocks, on the other hand, struggled as crude prices fell. Various reports suggested oil supplies were rising: Reuters reported OPEC output grew in September despite its earlier production cut agreement; oilfield services company, Baker Hughes, said more drilling rigs were in operation; Libya restarted its biggest oil field; and U.S. inventory data showed an increase in stockpiles.

The energy sector was a key laggard in the U.S. as well, where most sectors of the S&P 500 advanced. The financials sector led the gains, boosted by rising bond yields after Friday’s employment report showed rising wages and a tight labour market. Although most weekly and monthly data are currently being whipsawed by the effects of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, activity is recovering quickly. This week saw new motor vehicle sales at one of the highest paces on record (boosted by replacement of storm-damaged vehicles), strong purchasing managers indices for both manufacturing and services (the latter at the fastest rate of growth in this 93-month expansion), and solid employment reports (allowing for the hurricane distortions.) The materials sector was strong, as it was in Canada, but because of its comparative low weight, had less absolute impact.

Some peripheral equity markets in Europe, including Italy and Greece, lost ground, along with Spain, but major markets moved higher as the eurozone’s manufacturing expansion continues, led by Germany. The manufacturing PMI just hit a 77-month high and has been above the 50 percent mark (a signal of growth) for 51 consecutive months. Equities in the United Kingdom were also higher as Britain’s PMI slightly disappointed but remained at a healthy level. However, the pound weakened as doubts arose concerning Prime Minister Theresa May’s continued leadership.

Most Asian markets were closed at least part of the week, but joined the global stock rally when they were open. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index led a strong move mid-week and approached a 10-year high. Japanese markets, like those elsewhere, rose on stronger economic data, and the Nikkei 225 index broke out to a 20-year high.

What’s ahead next week:

Canada

  • Building permits (August)
  • Housing starts (September)
  • Teranet-National Bank home price index (September)

U.S.

  • NFIB small business optimism (September)
  • FOMC meeting minutes (September)
  • Job openings and labour turnover survey (JOLTS) (August)
  • Consumer and producer price indices (September)
  • Retail sales (September)
  • University of Michigan consumer sentiment index (October)
  • Business inventories (August)
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OSFI Changes May Signal Expectations of 2% Increase in Mortgage Interest Rates

Posted on October 4, 2017 by Baldo Minaudo

This month the Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions for Canada is finalizing changes in legislation that will include requiring those that purchase a home with a minimum down payment of at least 20%, not needing mortgage insurance, to prove they could still afford their mortgage payments if interest rates were 200 basis points (two percentage points) higher than the rate they negotiate.

Jeremy Rudin, the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, told reporters. “But we do know this: Housing prices are still near their all-time highs, and mortgage rates are still near their all-time lows. And while sound underwriting is always important, it’s never been more important than it is now.”

Though OSFI, nor the banks have stated that interested rates are headed 2% higher, the fact that they are stress-testing for this to happen, tells me that they are planning for it to happen.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada has already announced that they are expecting to increase interest rates again later this month.

Banks have already tightened their lending policies and I’m getting reports of strong applicants having their mortgage applications turned down by the banks.

Globe and Mail article on OSFI announcement

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Originally published by Baldo Minaudo on BaldoMinaudo.com, Baldo Minaudo, M.B.A. is a Real Estate Broker located out of Toronto serving local and international clients. He may be reached through is office 416-698-2090 or through his website.

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Which Way Is The Toronto Housing Market Moving?

Posted on October 4, 2017 by Baldo Minaudo

Toronto Detached Homes in high demand

I am often asked about where the Toronto housing market is headed. In the long-run we all know real estate has to go up. After all, there is only so much land and the population keeps growing. Toronto is one of the top destination cities for immigrants from around the world. However, in the short-term, as governments pass policies and regulations affecting housing, the Toronto housing market will be impacted.

We’ve already seen the consequences of tightening mortgage rules and the Ontario Government’s fair housing act, which seems to have contributed to dampening of house appreciation, while possibly decreasing availability of rental units and increasing rents. Contrary to what the government tried to accomplish? Correct. The reason being that with the extra costs of providing rental housing, any new units on the market will need to be rented at higher rates to cover the increasing tax and regulatory related expenses.

So, as the market adjusts to these new changes and with what I believe will be a Bank of Canada interest rate hike this month, I expect Toronto housing market growth to be hampered further. Of course, some neighbourhoods will be affected more than others. Contact me if you’re looking to buy and I’ll help you choose the right neighbourhood and home to meet your needs in this changing market.

Follow me for my next post in regards to another development this month that will further dampen Toronto housing market growth. (

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baldo/)

Odds of a rate hike soar to almost 50% overnight after Canada’s growth wows economists

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