London Stock Exchange Group PLC is in merger talks with Deutsche Boerse AG, a tie-up that will create one of the greatest exchange companies on the planet. 'If the TSE went dark, would it really matter?': Exactly what the future holds for Canada’s stock exchanges Depressed commodities and the oil collapse have crimped the S&P/TSX composite’s performance – prompting questions ...
Read More »Sears Canada exits more store leases, handing off 8 Sears Home leases to Leon’s Furniture
TORONTO – Sears Canada Inc. will hand eight of its big-box Sears Home store leases to Leon’s Furniture Inc., a potentially disappointing sign to have an historically robust section of its business. Tuesday’s announcement, which provides coverage for four home stores in British Columbia, three in Ontario and one in Moncton, N.B., may be the latest inside a series of ...
Read More »When ‘social licence’ costs become unbearable
Social licences have become the premise of Justin Trudeau’s thought-provoking policy about energy-project developments. They have also be a main reason why western provinces and the business community have started to doubt the best minister’s leadership and the willingness to stand for a healthy energy sector. To begin with, nobody exactly understands (and never will) exactly what a social licence ...
Read More »Hudson’s Bay Co reveals solid sales bump as online sales surge 23%
TORONTO – In a possible bid to quell investor concern with the impact of the unusually warm winter on apparel retailers, Hudson’s Bay Co. revealed partial fourth-quarter and full-year sales results Tuesday that showed a solid improvement, should you strip the effects of currency. The Toronto-based operator of Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue reported sales at ...
Read More »Royal Bank of Canada, Sun Life Financial Inc grow cautious on commercial loans as slumping economy raises risk of default
Canada’s largest commercial-mortgage lenders, including Sun Life Financial Inc. and Royal Bank of Canada, are turning more cautious as the commodities slump stunts economic growth and enhances the chance of default. “We’re concerned about the stage in the real-estate cycle Canada’s in at this time – there’s more risk in the market,” Michael Andrews, md of Toronto-based Sun Life’s Canadian ...
Read More »Purpose-built residential rental market picking up steam in Canada, new report suggests
As pension funds and other big investors seek new, reliable income streams, purpose-build rental is at levels not seen in two decades. ‘White-hot’ Vancouver, Toronto housing markets could be dragged down by rest of Canada, report says A new report from Moody’s Analytics says Canada’s two priciest markets may ultimately be dragged down by housing results in all of those ...
Read More »Preferred shareholders, but in name only
Judging by some recent actions, it would appear that preferred shareholders are preferred in name only. The latest example is set to play in early March when holders of securities from Capstone Infrastructure Corp. gather to vote on the takeover from British-based ICON Infrastructure Partners C a transaction worth $480 million. (Specifically, Irving Infrastructure Corp., one of ICON, is making ...
Read More »Suncor Energy Inc expected to shed assets
Higher debt stemming in the purchase of Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. will likely lead Suncor Energy Inc. to divest some non-core assets, but if oil prices remain depressed, its retail gasoline business may also be put up for sale. The $6.67-billion takeover includes $2.4 billion of debt, while at the same time giving Suncor a long-life, low-decline asset during a ...
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