Outlook On Housing
Interpreting recent economic signals in the first quarter of 2019 is challenging. Housing markets in main urban centers are cooling. This is generally interpreted as a good sign and potentially averting a housing bubble. It appears that the new rules on speculation, foreign ownership and increasing mortgage rates have had a positive impact on a … Continue reading Outlook On Housing
Read full postUnrealistic Views Of Risk and Return
Do investors have a realistic view of risk and return? As we recently pass the 10th anniversary of the Financial Crisis of 2008 with significant volatility in the financial markets, insights about investor sentiment were surveyed. Why is sentiment important? Simply put, it can move markets. Here are some of the highlights of the research … Continue reading Unrealistic Views Of Risk and Return
Read full postInterested In Interest Rate Trends?
Canadians, whether borrowers, lenders or savers have been attuned to rising interest rates in 2018. Rates are on the rise and where they go depends upon external forces such as exchange rates with trading partners and equity markets. The Canadian economy had a solid month with positive employment figures, settlement of the US NAFTA 2.0 … Continue reading Interested In Interest Rate Trends?
Read full postPortfolio Perspective: Fixed Income
Fixed income portfolio allocations continue to evolve under the neutral rate policy of the Bank of Canada (BoC). This approach is to maintain an interest policy rate consistent with full employment, trend growth and stable prices. It is an important concept in order to understand how your fixed income portfolio will be impacted looking forward. … Continue reading Portfolio Perspective: Fixed Income
Read full postEconomic Outlook February 2018
After years of solid job creation, the labour market has tightened as evidenced by a U.S. jobless rate of just 4.1% (a multi-year low) and climbing job openings, both of which point to increases in wage inflation and hence overall inflation. Note that job creation now seems to be tilting towards sectors with higher wage … Continue reading Economic Outlook February 2018
Read full postTaxing Issues for Entrepreneurs in 2018
As late as December 15th, private business owners (referred to as Canadian-controlled Private Corporations or CPCC) will have major Canadian personal tax changes effective January 2018. This process began in July 2017 and engaged over 20,000 responses primarily from small business owners. The push back included the Canadian Chamber of Commerce President, Perrin Beatty who thundered … Continue reading Taxing Issues for Entrepreneurs in 2018
Read full postHampton Securities Grows Again!
Hampton Securities Limited is pleased to announce three professionals have joined our highly qualified team. Mr. Michael MacMenamin has joined the firm’s institutional trading group in Toronto. Mr. Rafael Garcia has joined the firm’s Wealth Management Group in Toronto, as Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Steven Carinci has joined the firm’s Wealth Management Group … Continue reading Hampton Securities Grows Again!
Read full postMonday Monitor- August 7 Selling Sunshine!
With the lowest unemployment rate announced on August 4, 2017 since 2008, the summer sunshine is warm in Canada. Canadian employment rose by 11,000 jobs in July according to the Labour Force Survey. That was a touch below consensus expectations. The unemployment rate dropped two from 6.5% to 6.3% (the lowest since October 2008). Self-employment … Continue reading Monday Monitor- August 7 Selling Sunshine!
Read full postMonday Monitor – July 17th House Price Index
The Teranet–National Bank National Composite House Price Index TM rose 2.6% in June, the largest increase for that month in the index’s 19-year history. The table below breaks it down metropolitan areas: City Hamilton Toronto Quebec City Vancouver Victoria Edmonton Halifax Montreal Ottawa June Change +4.1% +3.7% +3.7% +2.5% +2.2% +1.8% +1.7% +1.6% 1.2% Year over year, … Continue reading Monday Monitor – July 17th House Price Index
Read full postTaking Stock at the 2017 Economic Midpoint (MGIS)
An update with a difference as investors watch a day time poltiical drama unfold at the midpoint of 2017. These distractions may create a diversion from the underlying realities that world economies are generally strengthening overall. Michael Graham Investment Services (MGIS) offers a fulsome and entertaining review of current global economic conditions. MGIS declares that the … Continue reading Taking Stock at the 2017 Economic Midpoint (MGIS)
Read full postMonday Monitor: July 10th Bank Speak Week
A big week coming up for the Bank of Canada (BoC) after a strong June jobs report coupled with a stronger Canadian dollar will focus attention on the BoC statement on monetary policy due on Wednesday July 12th. For the first time in seven years, the central bank could actually raise interest rates. The broad-based … Continue reading Monday Monitor: July 10th Bank Speak Week
Read full postMonday Monitor May 15th, 2017 “CPI Numbers for Canada”
Monday Monitor for May 15th, 2017 Financial Markets Last Week With a look at the year-to-date (Y-T-D) comparisons of the major financial markets, the divide between global and international market expectations with their underlying sectors or industries emerges for the first half of 2017. Canada’s main exchange the S&P/TSX60 Composite Index and its two main sectors of energy … Continue reading Monday Monitor May 15th, 2017 “CPI Numbers for Canada”
Read full postMonday Monitor May 8th 2017: “Housing Reports Cool in April”
Monday Monitor for May 8th, 2017 The Last Week Entrepreneurs and business owners pull through to be the major engine of modest job growth for a mixed Canadian April jobs report. This contrasted the stronger U.S. job growth at 211,000 in April above the consensus forecast of 190,000. While each central bank held their interest … Continue reading Monday Monitor May 8th 2017: “Housing Reports Cool in April”
Read full postMonday Monitor May 1st 2017: “After beating expectations the last 7 of the 8 prior months, the Canadian economy took a breather”
Monday Monitor for May 5, 2017 The Last month In February 2017, Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reported a flat 0.1% increase. There is no need for concern, according to our partners at National Bank Financial Economic and Strategy Group (NBF). Even with a modest February and March level of overall economic activity, Canada’s economy … Continue reading Monday Monitor May 1st 2017: “After beating expectations the last 7 of the 8 prior months, the Canadian economy took a breather”
Read full postWhat does retirement look like, really?
Retirement is a process of losing and finding your identities. The financial challenges of preparing for retirement can be managed in many ways. It always begins with a solid and dynamic financial plan. The psychological plan should also be invested in too. The reality of discovering that within an employment capacity, you are indispensable, is … Continue reading What does retirement look like, really?
Read full postEntrepreneurial Insights from Budget 2017
Entrepreneurs and those business owners who operate through a private corporation, known in tax lingo formally as a “Canadian-controlled private corporation” (CCPC), often do so for a variety of tax reasons. While the recent Federal Budget in March 2017 did not change the corporate tax rates or the tax treatment of CCPCs, the various tax … Continue reading Entrepreneurial Insights from Budget 2017
Read full postEntrepreneurs: Have the “Money Talk”
Time to have the “Money Talk”. Financial and Tax Planning are common catalysts in the first quarter of each year, regardless of when you file your taxes. Our Advisors at Hampton Securities would recommend entrepreneurs take it a step further. It is an ideal time to have the “Money Talk” with family and partners to … Continue reading Entrepreneurs: Have the “Money Talk”
Read full postTariffs and Trade and Your Investment Portfolio
Canadians have an understandable bias towards building investment portfolios that own Canadian stocks and bonds. Our partners at National Bank Financial Economics suggest that the world of Trump tariffs and trade policies may require a new approach to how to analyze your investments. In an article from Investment Executive Canada, National Bank Financial recommends, “In this … Continue reading Tariffs and Trade and Your Investment Portfolio
Read full postRecord Canadian Jobs Report
Great news for the Canadian economy as a record number of full-time jobs was declared in April 2019 with 107,000 added. Our partners at National Bank Financial, Economics offers a balanced view of this one month surge.
Read full postNew Federal Budget and Tax Time
The new Federal Budget dropped on March 19, 2019 during a time when many Canadians are thinking about their 2018 Tax Filing returns. What do you need to know? A Number Of Perspectives We offer a few different perspectives on the Budget features and proposed changes. PWC provides a specific list of changes from a … Continue reading New Federal Budget and Tax Time
Read full postTax Tips for 2019
The New Year brings many tips to kickstart every age group’s 2019 financial resolutions. Need some inspiration to get organized? A Financial Post Article recommends steps to get your plans for wealth building this year kickstarted. HEY KIDS … YOU CAN EARN $12,000 TAX FREE Canadians can earn $12,069 under the basic personal exemption amount. High … Continue reading Tax Tips for 2019
Read full postDoes The Jobs Report Signal A Slowdown?
The Jobs Report for December was in-line with expectations. “This is the worst performance in three years but it’s a pace we should get used to in the context of a tight labour market and a slowing economy,” indicates our partners at NBF Economics. Hiring plans continued to be widespread according to the Bank of … Continue reading Does The Jobs Report Signal A Slowdown?
Read full postHappy New Year!
Happy 2019! While December 2018 for investors may have felt more like coal in your stocking than a Santa Claus rally, we believe a return to normalized financial markets and interest rates in North America is beneficial in the longer run. What are your New Years ‘Investing’ Resolutions for 2019? Mercer offers a few to … Continue reading Happy New Year!
Read full postWill They Or Won’t They Increase US Interest Rates?
Today is an important day for investors as it will provide a window into the economic outlook for the US economy and future interest rates increases. Our partners at NBF Economics have forecasted that the ‘Fed’ (US Federal Reserve) is seen as likely to take the Fed funds rate higher looking further down the road. … Continue reading Will They Or Won’t They Increase US Interest Rates?
Read full post‘Tis the Season for November Jobs Report
Canada seems to be experiencing a “Santa Claus” rally in its most recent, very positive jobs report. Our partners at National Bank Financial offer a very merry review of the November jobs report. All expectations were meet or exceeded with job gains in the private sector (+79K), but also in government (+8K) and for self-employeds … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season for November Jobs Report
Read full postMonday Monitor: Have Interest Rate Hikes Had An Impact?
As the NAFTA 2.0 trade deal (USMCA) is finalized and the trade uncertainty is resides, it still appears that successive increases in interest rates are already having an impact in key sectors such as housing and autos. Many investors are asking — where are we as it relates to the next steps of economic growth … Continue reading Monday Monitor: Have Interest Rate Hikes Had An Impact?
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