Description: Unemployment in Canada has hit its lowest rate in forty years. The curious thing though, is that wages are not rising, in contradiction to our understanding of demand and supply. So, we seem to be faced with a case of good news/bad news. Though an increase in jobs is a very good thing, Manulife Asset… Read more »
Posts By: Brent White
Do you use self-checkout?
Description: Some call them job killers, those automated checkouts that seem to be spreading in the retail world. According to a survey from Dalhousie University, about 25% of those sampled had never used a self-checkout. Automation obviously allows for companies to cut costs. Some argue, though, that technological change leads to job growth. Date: December… Read more »
Huawei Chief Financial Officer Arrested
Description: Some shocking news emerged this week as we found out that Canada had arrested Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. As the Canadian court held a bail hearing on Friday, it seems that the CFO faces possible fraud charges regarding Huawei’s use of a subsidiary to sell product… Read more »
Problems at GE
Description: For many years, General Electric (GE) was a darling of the stock market, hitting target after target and pursuing solid growth. But now, analysts are sounding alarm bells. There are liquidity concerns about GE, as well as an ongoing investigation of its insurance business. In addition, there may be possible tax issues to deal… Read more »
This sounds familiar
Description: Many of us have heard about Tim Horton’s franchisees suing parent franchisor, Restaurant Brands International. But now comes word that franchisees of Second Cup are suing their head office as well. Franchisees are unhappy with their profit performance, arguing that the parent’s use of an advertising fund may have harmed them. Franchisees are also… Read more »
GM Leaving Town
Description: Thanks a lot for that one! Several years ago, Canadian and US taxpayers bailed out General Motors (GM) during the financial crisis. But GM is back in the black and it is saying it needs to close its plant in Oshawa to retool for the future, leaving 2500 people in this city out of… Read more »
Financial misconduct ousts Nissan chair
Description: Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn has been ousted for financial misconduct. This is shocking news for the man credited with turning the company around. The details of the investigation have not been made public, but one aspect seems to be a under reporting of Ghosn’s compensation. Ghosn has been arrested along with a Nissan director… Read more »
Do you like chocolate?
Description: Do you like chocolate? Well a lot of the world sure does. There’s a bit of a crisis in the cocoa world these days though, according to Bloomberg. One of the big suppliers, Saf-Cacao of Ivory Coast, has become part of a total of 32 exporters who have defaulted on their supply agreements. KPMG… Read more »
Going DEEP
Description: Deep Earth Energy Production Corp. (DEEP) is going deep. The company is the driving force behind a 3.5 km deep well to be drilled in Estevan Saskatchewan. The well will generate geothermal energy from underground steam, providing a source of green power to the Western province. Funnily enough, DEEP’s deep well source was discovered… Read more »
Canada Goose is flying high
Description: With winter-like weather hitting several parts of Canada last week, you may have seen many citizens enjoying the warmth of a “Canada Goose” jacket. With rising revenues, the company is seeing its shares up about twenty percent. Meanwhile, Canada Goose has invested in the acquisition of Baffin, a footwear manufacturer. It looks like Canada Goose… Read more »