The European Central Bank held its most-watched meeting of the year, setting out a roadmap for the withdrawal of quantitative easing (QE) that investors interpreted as moderately dovish. The Bank of Canada also took a more dovish than expected tone in the comments that accompanied its decision to leave its…
Month: October 2017
Dark anniversary for market passes without fret or consequence
The 30-year anniversary of the Black Monday (October 19, 1987) came and went without generating fits of anxiety in equity markets. Equities were also mostly able to shake off rising geopolitical risk as the Spanish government took steps to suspend Catalan autonomy – the latest move in a standoff over…
Markets surprisingly calm as earnings season kicks off
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…
Money Transmitter Licenses and Canadian First Global Data in the U.S.
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…
“Golden Week” for equities
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.…
OSFI Changes May Signal Expectations of 2% Increase in Mortgage Interest Rates
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…
Which Way Is The Toronto Housing Market Moving?
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…
First Global Data Appoints Vicki Ringelberg as New CFO
NEWS PROVIDED BY First Global Data Limited 06:00 ET TSX Venture Exchange: FGD Frankfurt Stock Exchange: 1G5 TORONTO, Oct. 2, 2017 /CNW/ – First Global Data Limited (“First Global” or the “Company”) announces the resignation of Nayeem Alli and the appointment of Vicki Ringelberg, as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Nayeem Alli is a…
Oil spikes higher and the “Trump trade” returns
Crude oil prices jumped this week driving big gains in energy stocks. Meanwhile, comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and the unveiling of the Republican tax plan in the U.S. gave new life to the so-called “Trump trade” (gains in equities, bond yields, inflation expectations and the U.S. dollar)…