Author: Consultant

  • Economic Calendar: Sept 16 – Sept 20

    Monday September 16

    China and Japan markets closed

    China industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment

    Euro zone trade surplus and labour costs

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canada’s manufacturing sales and new orders for July. The Street expects month-over-month increases of 1.0 per cent for both.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canadian new motor vehicle sales for July. Estimate is a year-over-year rise of 11.0 per cent.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. Empire State Manufacturing Survey for September.

    (9 a.m. ET) Canada’s new existing home sales and average prices for August. Estimates are year-over-year declines of 2.0 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.

    (9 a.m. ET) Canada’s MLS Home Price Index for August. Estimate is a drop of 4.0 per cent year-over-year.

    Tuesday September 17

    China markets closed

    (8:15 a.m. ET) Canadian housing starts for August. Estimate is a decline of 3.4 per cent on an annualized rate basis.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canadian CPI for August. The Street is expecting an increase of 0.1 per cent from Jyuly and up 2.1 per cent year-over-year.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. retail sales for August. Consensus is a decline of 0.2 per cent from July.

    (9:15 a.m. ET) U.S. industrial production for August. The Street is projecting a rise of 0.1 per cent month-over-month with capacity utilization up 0.1 per cent to 77.9 per cent.

    (10 a.m. ET) U.S. NAHB Housing Market Index for September.

    (10 a.m. ET) U.S. business inventories for July.

    (6 p.m. ET) Bank of Canada deputy governor Carolyn Rogers speaks in Toronto.

    Also: U.S. Fed meeting begins in Washington

    Wednesday September 18

    Japan trade deficit and core machine orders

    Euro zone and U.K. CPI

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canadian construction spending for July.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canada’s international securities transactions for July.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. housing starts for August. Consensus is an annualized rate rise of 5.9 per cent.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. building permits for August. Consensus is a rise of 0.3 per cent on an annualized rate basis.

    (1:30 p.m. ET) Bank of Canada’s summary of deliberation for Sept. 4 decision is released.

    (2 p.m. ET) U.S. Fed announcement and summary of economic projections (with chair Jerome Powell’s press conference to follow).

    Earnings include: General Mills Inc.

    Thursday September 19

    Bank of Japan monetary policy meeting (through Friday)

    Bank of England monetary announcement

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canada’s household and mortgage credit for July.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. initial jobless claims for week of Sept. 14. Estimate is 233,000, up 3,000 from the previous week.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. current account deficit for Q2.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. Philadelphia Fed Index for September.

    (10 a.m. ET) U.S. existing home sales for August.

    (10 a.m. ET) U.S. leading indicator for August. Consensus is a month-over-month decline of 0.3 per cent.

    Earnings include: Darden Restaurants Inc.; FedEx Corp.; Lennar Corp.

    Friday September 20

    Japan CPI

    Euro zone consumer confidence

    (8:15 a.m. ET) Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem speaks at the NBER “Economics of AI” conference in Toronto.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canadian retail sales for July. The Street is projecting a rise of 0.4 per cent frim the previous month.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canada’s industrial product and raw materials price indexes for August. Estimates are month-over-month declines of 0.1 per cent and 1.0 per cent, respectively.

  • Oil Futures Pare Early Gains, Settle Lower

     Published: 9/13/2024 3:18 PM ET  | 

    Oil futures gave up early gains and drifted lower on Friday on reports crude oil production resumed in several facilities along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

    Concerns about the outlook for oil demand from China weighed as well on oil prices.

    On Thursday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) lowered its oil demand growth forecast for the year and warned the oil market could face a surplus next year even if the OPEC+ alliance keeps its voluntary oil output cuts in place

    West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for October ended down $0.32 or about 0.46% at $68.65 a barrel.

    Brent crude futures were down $0.09 at $71.88 a barrel a little while ago.

    Oil prices had surged higher in the previous two sessions as oil facilities along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were shut down due Hurricane Francine.

    About 42% percent of the current oil production and 53% of the natural gas output in the Gulf of Mexico had been shut in, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said in a report on Thursday.

    Gulf of Mexico production makes up around 15% of total U.S. crude oil output, or nearly 2 million barrels of oil per day.

    A report from Baker Hughes today said the oil and gas rig count in the U.S. rose by eight in the week to September 13, to 590. While oil rigs rose by five to 488, gas rigs rose by three to 97.

  • TSX Posts Fresh Record Closing High

    Published: 9/13/2024 5:38 PM ET  | 

    The Canadian market climbed to a new all-time high on Friday, with stocks from healthcare, real estate and materials sectors contributing to the rise.

    Expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next week, and further reductions in the coming months helped underpin sentiment.

    The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index, which hit a new intra-day high at 23,637.25, ended the day’s session with a gain of 93.51 points or 0.4% at 23,568.65. The index gained 3.5% in the week.

    Healthcare stocks Tilray Inc (TLRY.TO) and Chartwell Retirement Residences (CSH.UN.TO) gained 3% and 3.3%, respectively. Sienna Senior Living (SIA.TO) climbed nearly 1.5%.

    Real estate stocks Allied Properties (AP.UN.TO), Riocan Real Estate (REI.UN.TO), Northwest Healthcare (NWH.UN.TO), CDN Apartment (CAR.UN.TO) and Smartcentres Real Estate (SRU.UN.TO) gained 3 to 4.15%.

    In the materials sector, New Gold (NGD.TO), Calibre Mining Corp (CXB.TO), Canfor Corp (CFP.TO), Silvercrest Metals (SIL.TO), MAG Silver Corp (MAG.TO), First Majestic Silver Corp (AG.TO), Interfor Corp (IFP.TO), Fortuna Silver Mines (FVI.TO), Aya Gold and Silver (AYA.TO) and Wesdome Gold Mines (WDO.TO) closed higher by 4 to 7.5%.

    Among other gainers, Telesat Corporation (TSAT.TO) soared 15.4%. Kinaxis Inc (KXS.TO) gained about 3.1%. West Fraser Timber (WFG.TO), Colliers International (CIGI.TO) and Toromont Industries (TIH.TO) also ended notably higher.

    Boyd Group Services (BYD.TO), Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ.TO), Dollarama Inc (DOL.TO) and Morguard Corporation (MRC.TO) lost 1 to 2.5%.

    On the economic front, data from Statistics Canada showed Canadian industries operated at 79.1% of their production capacity in the second quarter of 2024, up slightly from a revised 78.6% in the first quarter and above market estimates of 78.4%.

    A separate data from Statistics Canada showed wholesale sales in Canada rose by 0.4% month-over-month in July 2024, contrasting with the preliminary estimate of a 1.1% drop and following a 0.6% decrease in the prior month.

  • West Fraser Declares Dividend

    Sep 10, 2024, 17:01 ET


    VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 10, 2024 /CNW/ – West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (“West Fraser” or the “Company”) (TSX and NYSE: WFG) has declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.32 per share on the Common shares and Class B Common shares in the capital of the Company, payable on October 11, 2024 to shareholders of record on September 26, 2024.

    Dividends are designated to be eligible dividends pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any applicable provincial legislation pertaining to eligible dividends.

    Dividends are declared and payable in U.S. dollars. Shareholders may elect to receive their dividends in Canadian dollars. Details regarding the election procedure are available on our website at www.westfraser.com in the “Investors/Stock Information/Dividends” section.

    About West Fraser
    West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, which promotes sustainable forest practices in its operations. The Company produces lumber, engineered wood products (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, and particleboard), pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals, and renewable energy. West Fraser’s products are used in home construction, repair and remodelling, industrial applications, papers, tissue, and box materials. For more information about West Fraser, visit: westfraser.com.

    SOURCE West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

  • Oil Rebounds After Inventory Drop

    Published: 9/11/2024 5:48 AM ET | 

    Oil prices jumper over 2 percent on Wednesday, after having dropped to near three years lows in the New York session on concerns over a weak demand outlook.

    The upside was supported by a weaker dollar and industry data showing a drop in U.S. crude inventories.

    Benchmark Brent crude futures climbed 2.2 percent to $70.70 a barrel after falling below $70 to the lowest since December 2021 on Tuesday.

    WTI crude futures were up 2.5 percent at $67.36 after falling to the lowest since May 2023 as OPEC revised down its 2024 oil demand growth forecast for a second time.

    A weaker dollar offered some support ahead of U.S. consumer inflation data due later in the day which could shed light on the size of a widely expected rate cut by the Federal Reserve at next week’s policy meeting

    Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported that U.S. crude stocks fell by 2.793 million barrels for the week ending September 6, while analysts had expected a 700,000-barrel build.

    Gasoline stocks declined by 513,000 barrels and distillates inventories rose by 191,000 barrels, the report revealed.

    The weekly oil report from the Energy Information Administration is due later in the day.

  • Consumer prices rose 0.2% in August with core inflation higher than expected

    Prices increased as expected in August while the annual inflation rate declined to its lowest level since February 2021, according to a Labor Department report Wednesday that sets the stage for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in a week.

    The consumer price index, a broad measure of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, increased 0.2% for the month, in line with the Dow Jones consensus.

    That put the 12-month inflation rate at 2.5%, down 0.4 percentage point from the July level and compared to the estimate for 2.6%.

    However, so-called core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased 0.3% for the month, slightly higher than the 0.2% estimate. The 12-month core inflation rate was 3.2%, in line with the forecast.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/11/cpi-inflation-report-august-2024-.html

  • Economic Calendar: Sep 9 – Sep 13

    Monday September 9

    China CPI, PPI, aggregate yuan financing, new yuan losses and trade surplus

    Japan real GDP and bank lending

    Germany retail sales

    (10 a.m. ET) U.S. wholesale inventories for July.

    (3 p.m. ET) U.S. consumer credit for July.

    Earnings include: Oracle Corp.

    Tuesday September 10

    Japan machine toll orders

    Germany CPI

    England employment

    (6 a.m. ET) U.S. NFIB Small Business Economic Trends for Survey for August.

    (8:10 a.m. ET) Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem speaks at the Canada-U.K. Chamber of Commerce in London (with press conference to follow at 9:30 a.m.)

    Earnings include: GameStop Corp.

    Wednesday September 11

    UK GDP, services index, industrial and manufacturing production and trade deficit

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. CPI for August. The Street expects an increase of 0.2 per cent from July and up 3.2 per cent year-over-year.

    Earnings include: Dollarama Inc.; Transcontinental Inc.

    Thursday September 12

    ECB Monetary Policy Meeting

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canada’s national balance sheet and financial flow accounts for Q2.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canadian building permits for July. Estimate is a rise of 10.0 per cent month-over-month.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. initial jobless claims for week for Sept. 7. Estimate is 232,000, up 5,000 from the previous week.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. PPI for August. Consensus is a rise of 0.2 per cent from July and up 1.8 per cent year-over-year.

    (12 p.m. ET) U.S. flow of funds for Q2.

    (2 p.m. ET) U.S. budget balance for August.

    Earnings include: Adobe Systems Inc.; Empire Co. Ltd.; Kroger Co.

    Friday September 13

    China industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment

    Japan and Euro zone industrial production

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canada’s capacity utilization for Q2.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) Canadian wholesale trade for July.

    (8:30 a.m. ET) U.S. import prices for August. The Street expects a decline of 0.3 per cent from July but up 0.7 per cent year-over-year.

    (10 a.m. ET) U.S. University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment for September.

  • Oil Futures Settle Sharply Lower On Demand Concerns

    Published: 9/6/2024 3:13 PM ET | 

    Oil prices fell to an 18-month low of Friday, weighed down persisting concerns about the outlook for oil demand.

    Data showing a much less than expected increase in private sector as well as non-farm payroll growth in the U.S. and the possibility of increased oil supply from Libya weighed on oil prices.

    West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for October ended down by $1.48 or about 2.1% at $67.67 a barrel, the lowest settlement since March 2023. WTI crude futures shed about 8% in the week.

    Brent crude futures ended lower by $1.63 or about 2.2% at $71.06 a barrel.

    The Labor Department said non-farm payroll employment climbed by 142,000 jobs in August compared to economist estimates for an increase of 160,000 jobs.

    The report also said the increases in employment in June in July were downwardly revised to 118,000 jobs and 89,000 jobs, respectively, reflecting a net downward revision of 86,000 jobs.

    Meanwhile, the Labor Department said the unemployment rate edged down to 4.2% in August from 4.3% in July.

  • BRP cuts annual guidance as company reports second-quarter profit, revenue down from year ago

    BRP Inc. DOO-T -3.56%decrease reported its second-quarter profit and revenue fell compared with a year ago and cut its guidance for the year as it said it faced a challenging retail environment.

    The maker of Ski-Doo snowmobiles and Sea-Doo watercraft says it earned $7.2-million or nine cents per diluted share for the quarter ended July 31, down from a profit of $338.7-million or $4.26 per diluted share a year earlier.

    Revenue in the quarter totalled $1.84-billion, down from $2.78-billion in the same quarter last year.

    On a normalized basis, BRP says it earned 61 cents per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from a normalized profit of $3.21 per diluted share a year ago.

    In its outlook, BRP says it now expects revenue for the year to total between $7.8-billion and $8.0-billion, down from earlier guidance for between $8.6-billion and $8.9-billion.

    The company also says it now expects its normalized earnings per diluted share to come in between $2.75 and $3.25 for the year, down from earlier guidance for between $6.00 and $7.00.