Canada’s November jobs report proved an unpleasant, though not necessarily unexpected, wakeup call. This morning’s release ended a string of relatively solid (read: not awful) economic indicators. Read More

We’re following a simple strategy in The Energy Strategist: buying stocks in beaten-down energy subsectors with strong long-term prospects and buying defensive stocks and preferreds that offer high income potential. Read More

Last week was the first week of foreign investor net buying since May. Given the negative sentiment and depressed valuations, this is a positive factor. Although a positive week doesn’t make a trend, Asia remains the best long-term bet for investors. Read More

For all his cunning, Mr. Harper proved himself doubly cold, though perhaps a little dumb, with the official fall economic and fiscal update delivered by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on behalf of the minority government last Thursday. It was widely hinted that Mr. Flaherty would put off any stimulus plans until the February 2009 federal budget period, and there was no upside surprise there. Read More

Providing government support to aggregate demand is of obvious critical importance right now, but efforts to do so by spending money building schools, railways, hospitals, low-income housing, bridges and water mains has the added benefit of redressing decades of neglect by governments with other spending priorities. Read More

Economic numbers, like the markets, are stretched to the downside, and it shouldn’t be too shocking to receive a positive surprise in economic activity early in 2009. This may not be the economic bottom, but it should put a floor under the extremely distressed global economy. Read More

Its most accessible name is the Smart Grid, and it’s being built right now, a bit piecemeal and with a host players fighting for primacy, but this ship is sailing. It’s not a theoretical concept. Industries, from small software companies to major utilities, are spending tens of millions already. Governments--federal, state and local--are also committed to the Smart Grid. Read More

Its most accessible name is the Smart Grid, and it’s being built right now, a bit piecemeal and with a host players fighting for primacy, but this ship is sailing. It’s not a theoretical concept. Industries, from small software companies to major utilities, are spending tens of millions already. Governments--federal, state and local--are also committed to the Smart Grid. Read More