Month: January 2014

The Bank of Canada vs. the Government of Canada

In an interview earlier this month, Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty suggested that the Bank of Canada (BoC) could feel pressure to raise short-term rates later this year if the US Federal Reserve continues to taper its extraordinary stimulus. Mr. Flaherty also cited reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation…

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Paying down debt a top financial priority?

Contrary to TransUnion’s forecast discussed in our post of Dec 23, 2013 Record Consumer Debt Levels Expected for 2014 a recent poll conducted for CIBC by Harris/Decima found that 16% of respondents said lowering debt was their number one priority for 2014.  Although down one percentage point for the 17 percent in 2012 and 2013…

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