DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

OTTAWA, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy unexpectedly contracted at an annualized rate of 1.1% in the third quarter, data showed on Thursday, avoiding a recession but showing growth stumbling ahead of next week's interest-rate decision. The economy avoided slipping into a technical recession - defined as two consecutive quarter-on-quarter contractions - because second-quarter GDP data was revised up to a 1.4% gain from an initial report of a 0.2% decline, Statistics Canada said. The BoC has remained on the sidelines since July after lifting its benchmark interest rate to a 22-year high of 5% to tame inflation. "The bottom line is that the economy is still sputtering along," said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins Group. Real GDP most likely edged up 0.2% in October after a 0.1% gain in September, Statscan said.

Persons: Doug Porter, Royce Mendes, Bipan Rai, Statscan, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Divya Rajagopal, Fergal Smith, Mark Porter Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada's, Statistics, BMO Capital Markets, Canadian, U.S ., BoC, Desjardins Group, Bank of Canada, Bank, CIBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Canadian, Statistics Canada, North America, Ottawa, Toronto

OTTAWA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate eased more than expected to 3.1% in October and core inflation measures edged down to their lowest levels in about two years, data showed on Tuesday, likely closing the door to further rate hikes. The Bank of Canada (BoC) targets 2% annual inflation. "If the door wasn't already shut to additional rate hikes, it now should be." The bank projects inflation to hover around 3.5% until mid-2024, before trickling down to its 2% target in late 2025. Dragging the annual inflation rate in October was a 7.8% drop in gasoline prices, which benefited from comparison with a price surge in October 2022.

Persons: Royce Mendes, Simon Harvey, Chrystia Freeland, Justin Trudeau's, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Fergal Smith, Divya Rajagopal, Chizu Organizations: OTTAWA, Reuters, Statistics, Bank of Canada, BoC, CPI, Desjardins Group, Canadian, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Thomson Locations: Statistics Canada, Europe, Canada, Ottawa, Toronto

OTTAWA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Canada's trade surplus with the world increased twice as much as forecast in September, as higher crude prices helped exports gain for a third straight month, data showed on Tuesday. September's trade surplus gained to C$2.04 billion ($1.48 billion), Statistics Canada said, compared with a Reuters poll pointing toward a C$1.00 billion surplus. Energy products led the gains, mainly due to higher crude oil prices that coincided with the extension of voluntary production cuts by OPEC+. Partly offsetting the gains, exports of metal and non- metallic mineral products fell 10.7% in September from an all-time high in August. Overall, motor vehicles and parts recorded its sixth consecutive monthly rise, despite strike disruptions in the United States - Canada's biggest trade partner.

Persons: Stuart Bergman, Bergman, Shelly Kaushik, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Dale Smith, Ed Osmond, Chizu Organizations: OTTAWA, Statistics, Export Development Canada, Energy, ., Canadian, greenback, Bank of Canada's, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Statistics Canada, United States, Toronto, Ottawa

A help wanted sign hangs in a bar window along Queen Street West in Toronto Ontario, Canada June 10, 2022. Canada added a net 17,500 jobs in October, Statistics Canada data showed. The softer-than-anticipated jobs report follows data out earlier this week indicating that the economy likely slipped into a shallow recession in the third quarter. "This will keep the Bank of Canada pinned more fully to the sidelines, although we still believe that rate relief remains a distant prospect." The services sector gained 10,000 jobs, led by information, culture and recreation as well as healthcare and social assistance.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Royce Mendes, that's, Paul Smith, Doug Porter, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Nivedita Balu, Dale Smith, Louise Heavens, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Queen, West, REUTERS, Statistics, Reuters, Desjardins, Bank of Canada’s, The Bank of Canada, BoC, P, P Global Market Intelligence, CENTRAL BANK, Canadian, BMO Capital Markets, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: Toronto Ontario, Canada, OTTAWA, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Toronto

With the economy stumbling along slower than the Bank of Canada forecast just last week, analysts said there is no need to raise rates again from 5.0%, a 22-year high. July GDP was revised to being marginally negative from an initial report of zero growth, Statistics Canada said. This data reaffirms our view that the Bank of Canada is done raising rates for this cycle," Figueiredo said. The central bank has said its previous rate hikes are sinking in. The projected contraction in third-quarter annualized growth is far lower than the Bank of Canada (BoC) forecast last week.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Tiago Figueiredo, Figueiredo, Macklem, Benjamin Reitzes, Reitzes, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Roberts Bank, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, Canadian, Reuters, Statistics, BoC, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Delta, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian, Statistics Canada, Ottawa

REUTERS/Carlos Osorio/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate unexpectedly slowed to 3.8% in September and underlying core measures also eased, data showed on Tuesday, prompting markets and analysts to trim bets for another interest rate hike next week. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast inflation to hold steady at the 4.0% rate recorded in August. Two of the Bank of Canada's (BoC's) three core measures of underlying inflation also decelerated. Money markets trimmed bets for a rate hike next week after the data. "There's no need for further rate hikes in Canada," Reitzes said.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Jules Boudreau, stoking, Benjamin Reitzes, Reitzes, Statscan, Derek Holt, Macklem, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Fergal Smith, Divya Rajagopal, Jonathan Oatis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Reuters, Statistics, Mackenzie Investments, Bank of Canada's, Bank of Canada, BoC, BMO Capital Markets, Scotiabank . Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Statistics Canada, Mackenzie, Ottawa, Toronto

The jobless rate stayed at 5.5% for a third consecutive month, Statistics Canada said. Wage growth is also beating market expectations," said Michael Greenberg, a portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. "Despite the aggressive rate hikes by the Bank of Canada, clearly demand remains strong and companies continue to hire. Money markets increased bets for a rate increase later this month after the jobs figures were published. With September's robust gains, the economy is averaging 30,000 monthly employment growth this year, up from 25,000 a month earlier.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Michael Greenberg, Greenberg, Derek Holt, Holt, haven't, they've, we're, Statscan, Ismail Shakil, Nivedita Balu, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Dale Smith, Mark Porter Organizations: Queen, West, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Statistics, Reuters, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, Thomson Locations: Toronto Ontario, Canada, Statistics Canada, U.S, Ottawa

The second-quarter reading was far lower than the Bank of Canada's (BoC's) forecast for a 1.5% annualized GDP growth as well as the 1.2% gain expected by analysts. The quarterly slowdown was largely due to declines in housing investment and smaller inventory accumulation as well as slower international exports and household spending, Statistics Canada said. The central bank hiked its benchmark overnight rate to a 22-year-high of 5.0% in July, the tenth increase since March of last year. The high interest rate environment has coincided with falling housing investment, which recorded its fifth consecutive quarterly decrease in the three months ended in June. The housing investment decline was led by a sharp drop in new construction as well as a fall in renovation activities, Statscan said.

Persons: Stephen Brown, Andrew Kelvin, Statscan, downwardly, Doug Porter, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Fergal Smith, Nivedita Balu, Mark Porter Organizations: Bank of Canada's, North, Capital Economics, Bank of Canada, Statistics, BoC, Reuters, TD Securities, Money, Canadian, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: OTTAWA, North American, Statistics Canada, Canada

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast inflation would rise to 3.0% from the 27-month low of 2.8% recorded in June. Money markets increased bets for a quarter-percentage-point rate hike in September. They saw a 35% probability immediately after the release of the inflation data, up from 22% beforehand, and then settled back to a 31% chance. Not all economists thought the stronger-than-expected price data would tip the scales toward a hike as soon as its next meeting in September. The Bank of Canada, after its last rate hike in July, said it would study data closely before moving again.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Statscan, Derek Holt, Tiago Figueiredo, Jules Boudreau, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Paul Simao, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, OTTAWA, Reuters, Statistics, Bank of, Scotiabank, Canadian, Bank of Canada, Desjardins Group, Mackenzie Investments, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Statistics Canada, Mackenzie, Ottawa

OTTAWA, July 18 (Reuters) - Canada on Tuesday defended its decision to push ahead with its implementation of digital services taxes starting next year, citing national interest even as Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed hope in reaching an international consensus. Ottawa refused, saying an extension of the freeze would disadvantage Canada relative to governments that have been collecting revenue under their pre-existing tax regimes. Ottawa's new levy would see a 3% tax on revenue earned by large technology companies in Canada. The process of launching such taxes has dragged on, and the governments planning national digital services taxes had agreed to put them on ice until the end of this year or drop them altogether once the first pillar of the deal takes effect in 2025 or later. Freeland said Canada was already in the process of implementing the second pillar, which calls on governments to set a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% in 2024.

Persons: Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, David Ljunggren, Matthew Lewis, Susan Heavey Organizations: OTTAWA, Apple, Ottawa, Thomson Locations: Canada, New Delhi, India, Ottawa

OTTAWA, July 18 (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate dropped more than expected to a 27-month low of 2.8% in June, data showed on Tuesday, led by lower energy prices while food and shelter cost increases persisted. Month-over-month, the consumer price index was up 0.1%, Statistics Canada said, which was also lower than the 0.3% forecast. "Inflation is definitely moving in the right direction, but we're seeing stickier and more persistent core measures," said Michael Greenberg, senior vice president and portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. The average of two of the Bank of Canada's (BoC) core measures of underlying inflation, CPI-median and CPI-trim, came in at 3.8% compared with 3.9% in May. "The Bank of Canada's preferred measures of core inflation, which exclude significant moves in individual categories, show that underlying price pressures remain sticky," said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins Group.

Persons: stickier, Michael Greenberg, Royce Mendes, Mendes, We're, Jules Boudreau, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Nivedita Balu, Dale Smith, Will Dunham, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: OTTAWA, Reuters, Statistics, Bank of Canada's, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, Canada's, Desjardins Group, The Bank of Canada, Mackenzie Investments, Canadian, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Statistics Canada, Mackenzie, China, Ottawa, Toronto

OTTAWA, July 18 (Reuters) - Canada sees a path forward in reaching international consensus on digital services taxes, and a decision to not back a global agreement on freezing the implementation of domestic taxes was taken in the national interest, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Tuesday. Last week, most countries with planned digital services taxes agreed to hold off applying them for at least a year longer than what was agreed initially as a global tax deal to replace local taxes was pushed back. Ottawa did not back that deal to extend, saying such a delay would put Canada at a disadvantage relative to countries that have been collecting revenue under their pre-existing digital services taxes. Freeland, in India to attend G7 and G20 meetings, said she had good conversations about finding a path forward on digital services taxes. More than 140 countries were supposed to start implementing next year a 2021 deal overhauling decades-old rules on how governments tax multinational companies.

Persons: Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, David Ljunggren, Matthew Lewis Organizations: OTTAWA, Finance, Ottawa, Apple, Thomson Locations: Canada, New Delhi, Freeland, India, Ottawa

OTTAWA, July 7 (Reuters) - Canada's economy added far more jobs than expected in June, data showed on Friday, a result analysts said probably seals the deal for another Bank of Canada (BoC) interest rate hike next week. The unemployment rate in June increased for the second consecutive month and is now at its highest level since February 2022, though still below a pre-pandemic 12-month average, Statscan said. The June jobs report is the last major economic figure to be released before the BoC's rate announcement on Wednesday. Growth has remained resilient despite nine rate increases totaling 450 basis points since March of last year. The net jobs addition in June, the largest since January, were driven by full-time work.

Persons: Jobs, Statscan, Derek Holt, Royce Mendes, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Dale Smith, Emelia Sithole, Mark Porter Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, BoC, Statistics, Scotiabank, Desjardins Group, Reuters, Canadian, Employment, Thomson Locations: Statistics Canada, Ottawa

The economy shed a net 17,300 jobs in May, entirely in full-time work, while the jobless rate inched up to 5.2%, Statistics Canada said. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast a net gain of 23,200 jobs and for the unemployment rate to edge up to 5.1% in May after staying at 5.0% since December. A series of surprisingly strong economic data and stubbornly high inflation led the Bank of Canada to raise its overnight rate to a 22-year high of 4.75% on Wednesday. "While this is an ugly set of jobs data, the labour force survey is notoriously volatile," said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins Group. Reports on jobs, inflation and gross domestic product are due out ahead of the next policy announcement on July 12.

Persons: Andrew Grantham, Paul Beaudry, Beaudry, Royce Mendes, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Dale Smith, Susan Fenton, Nick Macfie, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: OTTAWA, Statistics, Reuters, Bank of Canada, Bank of, CIBC Capital Markets, Desjardins Group, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Canada, Statistics Canada, Bank of Canada, Ottawa, Toronto

OTTAWA, May 16 (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate rose in April for the first time in 10 months, data showed on Tuesday, adding pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates again after having paused its tightening campaign since January. Annual inflation unexpectedly rose to 4.4% in April, Statistics Canada said. Higher rent and mortgage interest costs contributed the most to the annual inflation rate in April, Statscan said. The higher interest rate environment may have contributed to rising rents by stimulating higher rental demand, the agency said. Excluding food and energy, prices rose 4.4% compared with a rise of 4.5% in March.

[1/2] Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses the media during a tour of the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. REUTERS/Rebecca CookOTTAWA, May 15 (Reuters) - Automaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) has stopped construction at a more-than C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) electric-vehicle battery plant in Canada amid talks with the federal and provincial governments about their support for the factory. "Effective immediately, all construction related to the battery module production on the Windsor site has stopped," the spokesperson said. However, some construction related to battery cell production continues, the spokesperson said. The Volkswagen battery gigafactory is the biggest single investment ever in the country's electric-vehicle supply chain.

OTTAWA, May 9 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday Canada will not be intimidated by retaliation from China after Beijing expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat response to Ottawa's decision to eject a Chinese diplomat on Monday. Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei over allegations related to foreign interference, and hours later, China asked a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to leave by May 13 in response to what it called Ottawa's "unreasonable actions". "We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be intimidated, we will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. China "took a very measured response," Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China, said in an interview broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "So putting sanctions on Canada at this stage would have sent a very bad message to foreign companies."

OTTAWA, May 9 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said Canada will not be intimidated by China following tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions by Ottawa and Beijing. "We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be intimidated, we will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. China "took a very measured response," Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China, said in an interview aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Beijing is conducting a "charm offensive (to) convince foreign enterprises to come back to China to invest," Saint-Jacques added. "So putting sanctions on Canada at this stage would have sent a very bad message to foreign companies."

OTTAWA, May 8 (Reuters) - Canada on Monday expelled Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei after an intelligence report accused him of trying to target a Canadian lawmaker critical of China's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority. The expulsion escalates already tense Sino-Canadian relations and is likely to prompt China, Canada's second-largest trading partner, to respond. China's embassy in Ottawa said it condemns the expulsion, and that it has formally protested the move to the government. China's Toronto consulate-general said the report on Chong has "no factual basis and is purely baseless." Trudeau said he found out about the intelligence report from the newspaper, and on Wednesday blamed the spy agency for not passing it onto him at the time.

[1/5] A sign is pictured in front of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) national headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 13, 2017. REUTERS/Chris WattieOTTAWA, April 19 (Reuters) - About 155,000 federal workers in Canada walked off the job on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees, a strike that affects a range of public services from tax returns to passport renewals. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union said contract negotiations would continue, and Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the urgency of resolving the dispute. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees: 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years.

REUTERS/Chris WattieOTTAWA, April 19 (Reuters) - About 155,000 federal workers in Canada walked off the job on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees, a strike that affects a range of public services from tax returns to passport renewals. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union and the federal government said negotiations are ongoing, and Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the urgency of resolving the dispute. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees: 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. "There's obviously still the concern that this contract could set a precedent for other public sector union negotiations," he said.

OTTAWA, April 11 (Reuters) - Canada on Tuesday imposed new sanctions over Russia's invasion in Ukraine and pledged fresh military support for Kyiv after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto. Trudeau said Canada was also imposing sanctions on nine entities tied to the Belarusian financial sector to further pressure Russia's "enablers in Belarus." Russia calls its actions Ukraine a "special military operation" to combat what it describes as a security threat from Ukraine's ties to the West. "We will continue to support Ukraine with everything needed for as long as necessary," Trudeau said. The two discussed a range of subjects including further military support and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, before signing a joint declaration to modernize trade between the two countries.

The economy gained a net 34,700 jobs, almost entirely in the private sector, and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.0%, Statistics Canada reported. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast that a net 12,000 jobs would be gained in March and the unemployment rate would edge up to 5.1%. Since December, the jobless rate has stayed just a notch above the record low of 4.9% observed in mid-2022. Thursday's jobs figures as well as robust GDP data released last week are likely to complicate the central bank's plans to avoid further rate moves. There were 18,800 full-time jobs added in the month, and 15,900 part-time jobs.

OTTAWA, March 31 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy grew more than expected in January and is seen expanding further in February, data showed on Friday, results that are likely to fuel concern by the central bank that inflation has yet to be fully tamed. The economy gained by 0.5% in January, ahead of analysts' forecasts of a 0.3% rise, after contracting 0.1% in December, Statistics Canada said. The Bank of Canada became the first major central bank to pause interest rate hikes in March after increasing them at eight consecutive previous meetings. With the key overnight rate now at 4.5%, the bank said it would not raise rates again if inflation came down as forecast. While inflation has eased, falling to 5.2% in February from a high of 8.1% last year, the economy is expanding faster than the central bank had forecast in January.

REUTERS/Carlos OsorioOTTAWA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Canada is sending four more Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine and is imposing new Russia-related sanctions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, marking the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Friday. The delivery would bring to eight the total number of Leopard 2 tanks Canada has pledged to Ukraine. Canada will also provide an armored recovery vehicle and over 5,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition to help Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Since the start of the war a year ago, Canada has provided more than C$5 billion ($3.67 billion) in support to Ukraine, Trudeau said. Russia's ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov said the sanctions by Canada and the West were "meaningless," TASS news agency reported.

Search resuls for: "Ismail Shakil Steve Scherer"

25 mentions found