Canada is a trading nation. In fact, the Canadian economy is one of the most dependent on trade among large, developed nations. While Canada’s recovery from the pandemic has been robust, its longer-term economic prospects will depend greatly on the expansion of global trade. The incoming Biden ... READ MORE >
Canada
Looking forward: Canada’s economy in 2021
The North American economy is defined by two trading partners connected through a common set of sociopolitical values, culture and industry. For every Raptors fan, there’s a heartbroken Warriors fan. And for every Ian Tyson who thinks he’ll “go out to Alberta,” there’s a Neil Young living in Los Angeles. ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Darkness before the dawn in global auto manufacturing
Global auto production has declined 32% on a year-ago basis largely because of the combined impact of the global trade war and pandemic. But as dour as that reality is, there are signs that the disruptions to global supply chains will ease as the global economy emerges from a deep slump and the ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: As demand for oil sags, price and production tumble
Global aggregate demand for oil is sagging again as the second wave of the global pandemic sweeps across Europe and Britain and intensifies in the United States. For the third time in 20 years, the bottom has fallen out of oil prices, which will most likely have enormous implications for the economies of ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Plunging private equity deal flow in Canada
The economic distress from the coronavirus pandemic is hitting the Canadian private equity market hard. The number of deals reached in Canada this year through Oct. 6 fell to 194, which at that pace would represent a 60% decline from 2019, according to PitchBook. The value of the deals plunged as well, ... READ MORE >
Tracking the coronavirus: Preparing for the deluge
More than 7.6 million Americans have been infected by the novel coronavirus as of the first weekend of October, according to statistics site Worldometer. The rate of new infections is increasing again, reaching 43,600 cases per day (see the first figure below) with 100,000 new cases reported in the past ... READ MORE >
More promise, more problems: Cyberattacks threaten life sciences companies researching COVID-19 vaccine
Picture this scenario: Researchers at a biotech company are working tirelessly on a potential coronavirus vaccine and planning to start a phase three clinical trial soon. This work results in more visibility for the company, and an influx of capital investment. But with that greater visibility and ... READ MORE >
Canada jobs: Canadian economy surprises again, regional disparities remain, outlook uncertain
New jobs data on Friday showed that the Canadian economy added another 952,900 jobs in the month of June, exceeding expectations by a large margin. High frequency and alternative indicators of economic activity such as restaurant bookings, public transportation use and traffic congestion levels had ... READ MORE >
Surprise increase in jobs, but some worrying signs for the Canadian economy
The Canadian economy is coming back on line and appears to have bottomed out--at least for now. Social distancing measures have been eased; real time and high frequency indicators like traffic levels, public transportation use and restaurant bookings have increased. Canada added 289,600 jobs in the ... READ MORE >
Sources of deflation: Measuring distress in the real economy and financial markets
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy was clearly slowing down. It may seem like another era – before the economic toll of the coronavirus had set in and the equity markets collapsed. But even in that period of relative calm, conditions were ripe for the Fed to address a slowdown. Today ... READ MORE >