Governments have only a limited amount of sway over markets at large but can influence investor sentiment on different sectors, such as health care or alternative energy.

Is it best, when investing, to stay politically agnostic?

Investing for Fun and Profit: Besides, how much influence do governments really have on the markets?

I began this column the day after the great Harris/Trump debate. Based on the publishing schedule, you might be reading it just before the U.S. election. A lot can happen in both politics and the markets over a six-week period, but I thought it would be an appropriate time to review how politics may or […] Read more



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China targets Canada’s tariffs with anti-discriminatory probe

Beijing | Reuters – China has launched an anti-discriminatory investigation against restrictive measures taken by Canada including additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products, its commerce ministry said on Thursday. This type of investigation usually takes three months to complete but could be extended under special circumstances, the ministry said. Beijing also […] Read more


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U.S. lawmakers want risks posed by Chinese agriculture drones addressed

Reuters – A dozen U.S. lawmakers on Friday urged the Biden administration to address the use of Chinese manufactured agriculture drones, saying their use on American farms poses national security risks. The House Republicans, including Representatives Elise Stefanik, Ashley Hinson and John Moolenaar, who chairs a select committee on China, asked the U.S. Agriculture Department and Cybersecurity […] Read more

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U.S. to spend $7.3 billion on rural clean energy projects

Reuters – President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday said the U.S. will spend $7.3 billion from 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act to fund clean energy projects helmed by rural electric cooperatives. The 16 funded projects will reduce energy costs and increase reliability for rural Americans, who tend to pay more for energy, the White House said. […] Read more


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ICE Weekly: Canola market suddenly in a very bad position

China caused a great deal of turmoil in the canola market on Sept. 3, leading prices to tumble on the Intercontinental Exchange. To senior market analyst Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm, China dramatically changed canola’s outlook in fell swoop. The Chinese government announced that it was launching an investigation into alleged canola dumping by Canada. This […] Read more

U.S. President Joe Biden, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stand together on the first day of the G7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy, June 13, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Yara Nardi/File Photo

G7 leaders launch initiative for global food security

Bari, Italy | Reuters – Group of Seven leaders have pledged to step up efforts against global malnutrition, according to a draft statement on Friday that noted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had “aggravated” the world’s food problems. The G7 Apulia Food Systems Initiative (AFSI) – named after the Southern Italian region hosting the leaders’ summit – will […] Read more


With the higher taxes leading to increased costs for transferring a farm to the next generation, “this puts the family farm at risk,” says the Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada.  Photo: MJ_Prototype/iStock/Getty Images

Family farms at risk from higher capital gains rates: GGC

[UPDATED: June 11, 2024] Glacier FarmMedia – Looming changes to Canada’s capital gains inclusion rates will increase average taxes by 30 per cent on the country’s family-run grain farms, putting their futures at risk, according to research conducted by the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC). “Our research shows that an average grain farm in Canada, […] Read more

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France revamps pesticide reduction plan in wake of farmer unrest

Paris | Reuters – France unveiled on Monday a revised plan to halve pesticide use in the European Union’s biggest agricultural producer, pledging to adopt an EU indicator and boost research into alternatives in a nod to grievances voiced in farmer protests this year. Why it’s important Environmental regulation was one of the main factors […] Read more