interest rates Archives - Page 2 of 8

Bank of Canada cuts rates, sees weaker economy in 2024

By David Ljunggren, Promit Mukherjee, Reuters July 24, 2024

The Bank of Canada on Wednesday trimmed its key interest rate by 25 basis points for the second month in a row, bringing it to 4.5 per cent, and said more reductions in borrowing costs were likely if inflation continued to cool in line with forecasts.

The Bank of Canada in Ottawa. (Video screengrab from BankofCanada.ca)

News

Bank of Canada interest rate cut to give some borrowers relief

Effects on financial markets likely to be muted says FCC economist

By Geralyn Wichers June 5, 2024

The Bank of Canada trimmed its key policy rate on Wednesday to 4.75 per cent from a 23-year high of five per cent. Inflation is now running at 2.7 per cent, above the central bank's two per cent target, but down from a high of 8.1 per cent in June 2022, Reuters reported.

Markets

ICE Canada weekly: Interest rate cuts to have positive or negative effect on canola

May 29, 2024

With the growing likelihood of an interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada, spillover from the move could prove to be beneficial for canola prices, according to Calgary-based Errol Anderson of Errol’s Commodity Wire.

Columns, Editor's column, Wheat & Chaff

Editor’s Rant: On the payment plan

By Dave Bedard April 16, 2024

As much as I get the general idea behind raising interest rates to keep inflation in check, I do have to wonder if the Bank of Canada and other central banks quite grasp how much their rate hikes over the past couple of years have driven and continue to drive up the cost of literally […] Read more

File photo of northern Alberta farmland. (Wonganan/iStock/Getty Images)

General

Farmland value growth slowed in 2023, FCC says

Saskatchewan, Quebec and Manitoba saw strongest growth in 2023, report shows

By Jeff Melchior, GFM Network News March 12, 2024

Farmland is still getting more expensive, but not quite as quickly as in recent years, according to the latest farmland value report from Canada’s biggest agricultural lender.

Just two per cent of the total companies in the S&P 500 index now represent 32 per cent of the entire index by market value.

Columns, Global markets, Home Quarter Investing, Markets

Economic and market outlook for 2024

If the U.S. avoids recession, Canada's will probably be shallow

By Herman VanGenderen March 2, 2024

It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.” One of my favorite prediction quotes comes by way of the legendary baseball player, manager and philosopher, Yogi Berra. This quote, like many of his famous quips, incorporates a meaningful paradox. Following up on my previous column, the TSX ended 2023 with a total return — […] Read more

Oil inventories remain low, but recession fears leading to price declines continue to permeate the market.

Columns, Home Quarter Investing, Markets

How did 2023’s economic and market predictions turn out?

Predictions are often made but their accuracy never evaluated, yet this is an important step

By Herman VanGenderen February 23, 2024

For the past seven years in my newsletter, I have made annual “Fearless Predictions.” I also summarize predictions from the investment industry. The last chapter of my book, titled “If I claim to be a wise man…it surely means that I don’t know,” launched my annual prediction exercise, largely to poke fun at the process. […] Read more

General

Feds reduce interest-free portion of cash advance

Increases implemented over the last few years have been discontinued, leaving farmers to pay higher interest cost

By Karen Briere, GFM Network News February 20, 2024

Farmers applying for spring cash advances should be aware the interest-free portion has dropped back to 2021 levels.

Dairy Cattle, General

Dairy sector set to stabilize in 2024: FCC

Feed prices, butter stocks, retail demand and inflation top trends to watch

By Geralyn Wichers, GFM Network News February 13, 2024

The dairy sector seems set to stabilize in 2024 amidst high processor demand and leveling-off input costs, Farm Credit Canada says.

Columns, Markets

A hundred years of Prairie farmland prices

Don’t bet the farm on that much-anticipated easing of interest rates

By Les Henry February 9, 2024

Farmland prices continue to go up like a helium balloon, leading to speculation that it might continue and speculation in land as a commodity. In this piece we will look at a long history and provide some guesses about the future. Anyone who thinks they can actually predict the future is living in dreamland. Figure […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News