Changing the mix of real estate portfolios, selling international exposures and considering increasing insurance prices are among the measures Canadian insurers are taking to compensate for the impact of COVID-19 on investment results. Intact Financial Corp.’s investment portfolio turns over…
The impact of low interest rates on insurer profitability is something that warrants more discussion, suggests a senior executive with one of the world’s largest reinsurers. “This is something that significantly impacts the profitability of the insurance and reinsurance industry,…
So long as a trade war and tariffs being thrown around, recessionary fears will always linger over the head of the economy. But that doesn’t mean it’s all storm clouds. One economist believes Canada is in good shape. The latest…
OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada left its trend-setting interest rate unchanged at 1.75 per cent Wednesday as the sharp decline in oil prices temporarily dims its economic outlook for the coming months. Before long, however, the central bank expects…
OTTAWA – Cooling inflation has given the Bank of Canada another reason to keep interest rates on ice next month. The annual pace of inflation slowed in November to 1.7 per cent as upward pressure from higher gasoline prices eased…
OTTAWA – The pace of economic growth in Canada slowed in the third quarter as business investment spending fell and the growth in household spending slowed, raising questions about the future pace of interest rate hikes by the Bank of…
OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada raised its trend-setting interest rate Wednesday and sent signals that future hikes could be upon Canadians sooner than previously expected. With a big source of trade uncertainty finally out of the way, the central…
What impact do rising interest rates have on P&C companies conducting mergers and acquisitions? We’re about to find out, as the Bank of Canada is widely expected to raise the interest rate target at an Oct. 24 rate announcement. “The…
OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada kept its key interest rate target on hold Wednesday, but noted the Canadian economy was a little stronger than expected in the first quarter, raising expectations that rate hikes are coming later this year…
As Canadian insurers struggle with auto claims and weather-related losses, relief may be in sight in the form of interest rate increases. “We think interest rates will go up over time because the economy of the U.S. is doing very…
TORONTO – Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz says with the economy running at close to full tilt, a mechanical approach to setting interest rates would suggest higher borrowing rates should already be in place. But in a speech Thursday,…
OTTAWA – Uncertainties continue to obscure the economy’s stronger-than-expected start to the year, the Bank of Canada said Wednesday as it stuck with its trendsetting interest rate of 0.5 per cent. In explaining its decision to hold the rate, the…