Conference Board index falls 2.2 points in February
Rate announcement coming next week
Annual survey indicates capital spending will rise by a mere 1.7%, down from 7.2% last year
Prices buoyed by pickup in China’s economy
Strong majority of exploration and production firms expect a price increase of 10% or more in the next five years
Financial sector profits slip
Foreign investors cut their holdings of Canadian shares by $6.7 billion in December
Insurer caps record year
Earnings per share up 10% in Q4
Barrick posts big loss