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Federal Reserve building

Fed likely to preach patience as markets look ahead to rate cuts

Federal Reserve officials are expected to play it safe when they meet this week

Arrow up

Economists expect inflation rate ticked up above 3% last month

Higher energy prices are driving the increase

home financing

National home sales in February up nearly 20% compared with year ago

Buyers are showing more optimism than last year

Arrow cube

Wholesale sales rose 0.1% in January

For a fourth consecutive month, the personal and household goods subsector also rose

home building

February housing starts increased 14% from January, finds CMHC

Slower housing starts have been expected this year as borrowing conditions and labour shortages affect the pace of building

Apartment building

Renters have harder time accumulating wealth: RBC economist

Homeowners' net worth has reached greater levels in comparison

Quantum computer

Financial services execs investing in generative AI: report

Many professionals were also concerned about cybersecurity threats

Heavy weight

Households owed $1.79 for every dollar of disposable income in Q4

Data from Statistics Canada is lower in Q4 than it was in Q3

Quebec tables budget with $11B deficit

Finance minister Eric Girard offers no precise timeline to balance books

inflation

U.S. inflation up again in February

Prices rose 0.4% from January to February, higher than the previous month’s figure of 0.3%

India europe

India signs a trade accord with 4 European nations

Deal calls for $100 billion in investments over 15 years

Japan credit card

Japan’s economy avoids recession, revised data show

Economy managed growth of 0.4% in 2023's final quarter

Bankrupt

Insolvencies expected to stay higher in 2024

Experts say economy still playing catch-up after pandemic lows

Apartment building

Average asking rent prices are up 10.5% from 2023

Asking rent reached $2,193 in February

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Banks face array of shareholder proposals

Environment, executive compensation and governance issues highlight the big banks' upcoming proxy season

Stick figures

Canada added 41,000 jobs in February

However, other measures of employment paint a weaker picture of the labour market

Now hiring sign

U.S. employers add a surprisingly strong 275,000 jobs

The latest figures reflected the job market’s sustained ability to withstand the 11 rate hikes imposed by the Fed

World graph

After a weak 2023, capital markets poised to revive

Underwriting activity expected to pick up monetary policy eases, DBRS says

Heavy weight

Global debt growth poses looming challenge: OECD

Highly-indebted countries could face a negative feedback loop

International Trade

Statistics Canada reports $496M merchandise trade surplus for January

Total imports dropped 3.8% to $61.8 billion

Euro map

European Central Bank leaves key rate at record high

ECB President Christine Lagarde hints that any move on rates might have to wait until June

Ontario

Ontario budget set for March 26

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy says there will be no tax increases

time clock

U.S. securities class actions slower to settle

Aggregate settlement value held up, even as volumes declined

Advisor tracking stocks

Robust derivatives trading boosts U.S. exchanges

Non-trading revenues at U.S. venues also rose in 2023, Fitch reports

Global growth

Core inflation stays high, defying headline decline

While volatile food and energy components ease, other prices resist: OECD