Finance Minister Issues Economic Update
Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau will provide an update on the Canadian economy on Monday. The statement, the first since the Liberal government’s re-election, will provide an overall framework of the economic direction for the new minority government.
According to the mandate letter Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued to Morneau in re-instating him in the portfolio last month, the government will aim to cut taxes while attempting to brace itself to head off a possible downturn in the economy.
The context in which Morneau will make his statement is important and cannot be ignored. Earlier this month, Statistics Canada revealed that the Canadian economy lost an unexpected number of jobs. A total of 71,000 positions were lost in November, with about 45,000 carved out of the Quebec market and about 18,000 from Alberta. Employment levels, however, are still better this year as compared with last year. The economy has created about 300,000 more jobs this year as compared with 2018. But the recent drop in job numbers, which has sent the unemployment rate slightly higher, is a concern.
Also, the Conservatives have raised a red flag over the growing number of bankruptcies across the country. The number of business and personal bankruptcies in the country has increased by 8.8% in the last year ending Oct. 31. The previous 12-month period saw the level of bankruptcies jump 1.4%, while the number in 2017 jumped 2.6% and 4.1% in 2016.
Inflation Rate To Be Revealed Wednesday
Statistics Canada will release its Consumer Price Index for November on Wednesday.
The last report pegged the country’s annual rate of inflation for October at 1.9%, which was just within of the 2% target touted by the Bank of Canada’s target of, and unchanged from the previous two months.
The next central bank rate announcement is scheduled for Jan. 22.
Plan To Privatize Hudson’s Bay Co. Up In The Air
The Hudson's Bay Company (TSX:HBC) holds a special shareholders’ meeting Tuesday. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize a vote on a proposed deal that would take the Canadian retailer private. But that vote has now been delayed.
Yesterday, reports surfaced that claimed Richard Baker, the company’s executive board chairman who spearheaded the $1.9-billion bid, could withdraw the offer. All of this comes in the wake of the decision last Friday by the Ontario Securities Commission to delay the vote after receiving a complaint from a minority shareholder, the Catalyst Capital Group.
Catalyst had made a competing bid for the Canadian retailer. The Catalyst offer was rejected by a special committee put together to consider the bids.
Shares of Hudson’s Bay closed at $8.88 on Friday, up 2.66% on the day, but down 2.7% on the week.
Notable Earnings Reports To Watch
BlackBerry Ltd (TSX:BB) reports third-quarter earnings on Friday. And it will be interesting to watch how the company’s stock reacts.
Last quarter, the cyber security company based in Waterloo, Ont., posted a net $44-million loss. It also reported revenues of $244 million, below analyst estimates. The markets reacted, sending its stock price down 23% on the day, its worst one-day lost in 2019.
Cannabis grower Hexo Corp (TSX:HEXO) reports Monday. And analysts are not too optimistic that it will signal a turnaround for the embattled sector. Analysts are predicting Hexo revenues will be in the lower range of its guidance. Delays in the company rolling out its array of edible products will be met with pessimism, as well.
In the last year, Hexo shares have lost 40.4%.