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calvin yue

Housing prices could fall 25%, research firm warns | Real Estate | News | Financial Post - 0 views

  • Canada’s housing market is a bubble ready to burst as valuations have “lost touch with fundamentals” and household debt is at a record high
  • The independent research firm’s report says it fears that house prices could fall by as much as 25% over the next three years.
  • House prices have been growing rapidly for nearly a decade now and it has reached the point where housing is so overvalued relative to incomes that a downward correction seems unavoidable
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  • Relative to disposable income per capita, our calculations suggest that housing is around 25% overvalued, which is approaching the level of excess that the U.S. market reached at its peak in 2006.”
  • Capital Economics says signs of over-building are evident as unoccupied housing units are at historically high levels, similar to 1994-95 when housing construction was last mired in a slump.
  • Another sign of over-building, or perhaps over-consumption, is the sharp increases in the home ownership rate over the last 10 years,”
  • This run-up has coincided with a housing price boom fuelled by rising financial leverage.
  • Our concern is that these excesses will eventually lead to a house-price correction, which would greatly impact household wealth, consumer confidence and the economic recovery
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    Canada's housing market is becoming a bubble and ready to burst.The evidents could be over-building, or perhaps over-consumption.
calvin yue

Canada Price History-Canadian housing market strong | Global Property Guide - 1 views

  • Buoyed by strong demand and low interest rates, Canadian house prices continue to rise.  In the year to end-June 2011, the national house price index rose by 4.52% (1.37% inflation-adjusted), according to Teranet-National Bank of Canada. Even stronger price-rises are suggested by the latest Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) figures, which report that average homes prices were up 9.3% on the year, to CA$361,181 (US$369,068).
  • The previous 3 years in summary:       • House prices rose 4.06% in 2010 (1.66% inflation-adjusted)       • House prices rose 5.24% in 2009 (3.87% inflation-adjusted)       • House prices fell 0.57% in 2008 (-1.71% inflation-adjusted). In July 2011 sales were 12.3% up from a year earlier, according to CREA. The total number of newly listed homes rose by just 1% in July 2011 from the previous month. There was 6.1 months of housing inventory, suggesting a balanced market.
  • House prices rose 4.06% in 2010 (1.66% inflation-adjusted) House prices rose 5.24% in 2009 (3.87% inflation-adjusted) House prices fell 0.57% in 2008 (-1.71% inflation-adjusted).
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  • In 2011, housing starts are forecast to drop 3.5%, according to CMHC.
  • Existing home sales are expected to fall 1.7% to 456,000 units in 2011, according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
  • In 2009, total MLS existing home sales were up 7.2% on the previous year, with British Columbia and Ontario leading the increase.
  • The new housing price index (NHPI) fell 0.1% in July 2010 from the previous month, the first monthly drop in the last 13 months, according to Statistics Canada.
  • Rental market is stable
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    supporting statistics and graph
calvin yue

All About Cities » Solving the rental housing shortage and price challenge - 0 views

  • In the Vancouver metro area, and in many cities across Canada (and the world) people are
  • starting to increase the value they place on: short commutes, walkable communities, transit-oriented
  • communities, and living a more sustainable lifestyle (less auto use, for example).  If you want a healthier planet and environment, this is a good thing.  But it has the consequence of higher housing prices.
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  •  Second, steps need to happen to convert suburban areas that are currently more auto-centered into more walkable areas with amenities nearby.  This will also mean existing residents in these places accepting more density and even some new commercial uses in their areas.  You don’t get the customers for successful organic grocers, coffee bars, clothing stores, etc. without a lot of people living nearby, but increasingly you don’t get people wanting to live nearby without the grocers and cafes.  
  •  And housing of any type is helpful in making rental accommodations more affordable to those of modest means.  We need more purpose-built rental, more owner-occupied homes, more co-ops, more co-housing projects, more subsidized housing plans, and anything creative in between.  This will help push down prices, or at least stop their escalation in places with growing populations or growing demands.
  • Sometimes I hear renters’ rights groups protesting a city planning department giving a
  • concession
  • to a luxury rental project
  • claiming it doesn’t help the poor and middle income.
  •  
    possible solutions for solving the high housing price
pauleniar

Housing correction big risk for Canada | Economy | News | Financial Post - 0 views

  • uropean sovereign debt crisis destabilize the global economy, triggering in Canada a 15% decline in house prices, combined with a severe downturn in construction activity
  • GDP decline of some 2.5% over a period of two years
  • housing market will be the opposing forces of rock-bottom interest rates and economic weakness,
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  • At one end of the rope is the magnetism of low interest rates; at the other are subdued prospects for economic, income and employment growth
  • rising interest rates will restore the pressure on housing prices.
  • Canadian housing prices could fall by 1.9% next year and 3.6% in 2013
  • Home sales could suffer comparable declines, while average starts should fall to 170,000 to 180,000 annually over the next two years.
calvin yue

Introduction to Housing Bubble Problem | Calgary Real Estate - 0 views

  • Another topic for discussion is how to prevent a housing bubble. Some economists argue that governments and central banks can and should take action to prevent bubbles; others say that they aren’t able to do so and that they can only clean up the mess after the bubble bursts.
  • When the Bubble Bursts
  • Many households that took out loans are unable to cover the debt.
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  • The immediate effect is the depletion of wealth resulting in a negative impact on household consumption. A decrease in demand destabilizes the banking system, and investors are unable to pay off their debts.
  • increases.
  • Unemployment
  • The bankruptcy of banks and other financial institutions may have a negative effect on the financial system and even on industry. In most cases, the government has to involve itself in the stabilization of the country’s markets with the unavoidable increase in public debt.
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    hoursing price :what is Housing bubble problem and what is going to happen if the bubble brust
Fionn Ly

Housing prices to increase in 2012 - 0 views

  • "Throughout 2011, upward pressure on new home prices has been relatively low," says senior analyst Richard Cho of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. "With the unemployment rate elevated and new construction activity moderating, this has taken some pressure off some construction costs."
  • For 2012, we're not talking here about any dramatic increase in new home prices - but there will be movement.
  • builders won't go nuts with hikes is because they are still facing competition from the well-stocked resale market.
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  • For 2012, consumers can look forward to an average $7,000 increase, or about 1.3 per cent higher year over year.
  • During 2011, increases in the index were mainly supported by land prices because the cost of labour and materials had come down.
  • "After the first seven months of 2011, the land component of the index was up 2.7 per cent year over year, while the house component was down 1.6 per cent,"
  • The proportion of homes priced at $650,000 and above increased from 13.3 per cent in 2010 to almost 20 per cent this year.Conversely, homes priced at $449,999 and under decreased to 47 per cent, down from 59 per cent, over the same period.
  • As the supply in the resale market begins to lessen and conditions become even more balanced, stronger price growth is expected in 2012, says Cho.
Fionn Ly

Toronto's Real Estate Market in 2011 - Year in Review - 1 views

  • To kick off 2011 Finance Minister Jim Flaherty decided to make some changes to Canada's mortgage rules including reducing the maximum amortization from 35 years to 30 years.
  • New listings and sales were down 10% and 13% respectively in January 2011.
  • sales were down 14% in February, my market watch for the month showed that the market was actually heating up and moving further into seller's market territory.
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  • There were 19% fewer properties listed for sale in March which pushed the market deep into seller's market territory.
  • Sales were down 17% in April and the total number of homes available for sale declined by 23%. Prices were up 9% the same month.
  • There were 27% fewer homes available for sale in May which kept us deep in seller's market territory.
  • Sales were up 21% in June and the available number of homes for sale declined by 24%, pushing prices up 10%.
  • TD predicted that home sales would decline 12% over the next two years.
  • Toronto real estate prices went up 10% in August.
  • Sales and new listings for Toronto houses were up 14% and 17% respectively in October.
  • Toronto real estate sales were up 11% in November.
  • the IMF says Canadian house prices are 10% overvalued.
Fionn Ly

Strong demand, low inventory raised house prices in 2010 - 0 views

  • Record low interest rates created a strong demand for a relatively low number of available homes in Canada in 2010, resulting in a higher average sale price, according to a new study.
  • housing-related spending accounted for more than 20 per cent (or $330 billion) of Canada's Gross Domestic Product in 2010 -- a rise of 7.1 per cent from the $308 billion 2009,
  • "Aging baby boomers will generate demand for condominiums and for home adaptations and support services aimed at allowing them to continue living comfortably in their homes,"
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  • By 2036, the report suggested, the number of seniors in Canada will rise from 14 per cent to almost 24 per cent by 2036 -- a phenomenon that will have a direct effect on the real estate market.
  • "In addition, the population housed in institutions, such as nursing homes and hospitals, could potentially double by 2036 given the expected growth of the senior population."
  • Across Canada in 2010, construction crews and contractors were busy attempting to build the homes needed to meet the rising demand created by record low interest rates.
  • In total 189,930 new home starts were under construction in Canada in 2010, compared to 149,081 a year earlier.
Ben Cohen

Canada Income Inequality: How A Growing Earnings Gap Is Raising Home Prices For All Of Us - 2 views

  • When it comes to the eye-popping housing boom that has seen house prices in Canada more than double in just 10 years, there are a few common explanations.
  • there is evidence to suggest that income inequality — a trend that has been widening the gulf between Canada’s very rich and everyone else for the last three decades — may also be part of the equation.
  • The bottom line is that the reason why prices are so 'high' is because there is, amongst the buying public, a huge and large income inequality
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  • For what else could be driving the market to clear at these prices, given the hyper-connected infoglut [sic] of a world we live in?
  • When the rich get richer, they bid up the price of things that everybody else wants, too
  • housing prices adjusted for income have moved increasingly “out of their historical range” of three to four times annual median incomes, to ratios of between 4.7 and 11.3. This, combined with swelling mortgage debt, which last year surpassed $1 trillion, has prompted him and others to warn that Canada’s housing market is poised for a painful bust.
Fionn Ly

2011 is Toronto's year of the highrise - 1 views

  • “2011 has been the year of the highrise, not just in the 416, but also in the 905 regions,” says Joe Vaccaro, acting president of the Building Industry and Land Development Assoc. (BILD)
  • Toronto took the world record for the most high rises — a total of 132 — under construction in 2012.
  • Buildings hit new heights: A 75-storey condo, the tallest residential tower in Toronto, was announced for York St.
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  • Housing markets in other parts of the world may have cratered in 2012 under the weight of the recession and the eurozone crisis, but Canadian house prices soared to record levels, hitting almost $500,000 for the average Toronto house and more than $363,000 across the country when adjusted for seasonal fluctuations.
  • there are currently 223,824 new units proposed for the Toronto CMA and 43,000 under construction.
  • The biggest question heading into 2012 is simple, and scary: Is this a bubble that’s about to burst?
  • British magazine The Economist, have issued year-end warnings that the Canadian market is anywhere from 10 to 25 per cent overvalued.
calvin yue

House Prices In Canada - 0 views

  •  
    Supporting statistics
Dominic S

CTV News | Fed missed boat on housing: Should Canadians worry? - 1 views

  • While the Canadian situation is far different from the U.S. of 2006, the continued surge in condo constru
  • "While the Canadian situation is far different from the U.S. of 2006, the continued surge in condo construction and overall home prices to levels that are not consistent with the growth in domestic income is certainly raising questions about its sustainability and the fallout if it were to unwind."
  • "As well, foreign capital inflow has supported the Toronto and Vancouver housing markets for years. That factor has apparently been on a significant uptrend in Toronto in recent years. The outlook for that flow is uncertain, although arguably, Toronto will remain an attractive safe haven for foreign money. But how stable that money is remains a question."
Fionn Ly

Canadian home prices beginning to stabilize - 0 views

  • Canadian home prices were up 4.8 per cent. By contrast, home prices in the United States were down 7.5 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2010.
  • In Canada, the majority of local markets are experiencing a balance between demand for housing and the supply of properties for sale.
  • The report notes Canada is in the 13th year of the current upward pricing trend — a relatively long time considering that market cycles in the advanced countries average about 12 years
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  • In the past year consumer household debt grew, but at the slowest pace since 2002, Wright said.
  • "The only way these valuations can be explained is by the record low mortgage rates. Under more normalized interest rates, home prices would actually look 25 per cent overvalued based on current prices," the Merrill Lynch economists said.
iris qiu

Household debt loads inch higher: StatsCan - Business - CBC News - 0 views

  • The total amount of debt that Canadians hold in relation to their incomes continued to inch higher in the first quarter, Statistics Canada data revealed Monday.
  • The debt-to-income level ticked almost a full percentage point higher to 147.3 per cent in the January to March period, the agency said. The figure is a measure of total debt load — including mortgage and consumer debt — versus disposable income.
  • A decline in durable goods spending pushed consumer credit lower, but stable borrowing costs as well as higher housing resale and renovation activities pushed mortgage debt higher, the agency said.
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  • The debt loads of Canadians increased in the first quarter, but at the same time, their net worth also went up. Household net worth increased by one per cent to $6.3 trillion. That comes on the heels of a 2.4 per cent increase in the previous quarter.
  • Strong gains in the housing market explains much of the increase, but financial assets also appreciated. The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 5.1 per cent during the quarter.
Kuzivakwashe Musiyiwa

How Deregulation Eviscerated the Banking Sector Safety Net and Spawned the U.S. Financi... - 0 views

  •  
    No one person is responsible for the credit crisis, the failure of investment banks, the insolvency of commercial banks world-wide, the implosion of the world's stock markets, or for leading us to the precipice of another great depression. The truth is there were many. Fundamental and pragmatic banking regulations, which arose from the devastating financial collapses of the Great Depression, for decades strengthened U.S. banks and capital markets, making them the twin engines of American growth and the envy of the world. The systematic dismantling of those same regulations by greedy bankers began in earnest in 1980, peaked in 1999, and finally climaxed with an insane Securities and Exchange Commission ruling in April 2004, a final decision that paved the way for the implosion of everything regulation was designed to protect. Just how did we get here? Wall Street bankers, their exorbitantly well-paid lobbying army of former congressmen and former regulators, their greatly contributed-to sitting legislators and, most egregiously, the self-righteous and still mega-rich "former" Street executives have systematically eviscerated the muscle and bones from the regulatory bodies charged with protecting us from banks' self-destructive greed. An inordinately powerful group of executive insiders from the once-deeply respected House of Goldman Sachs (GS) have served as U.S. Treasury secretaries and in innumerable other administrative capacities.
anonymous

Occupy protestors say it is 99% v 1%. Are they right? | News | guardian.co.uk - 0 views

  • Is it really 99% v 1%? It has become the rallying cry of the Occupy Wall Street movement - and the Occupy protests around the world. But is it true?
  • When Americans are asked how US wealth is distributed, they think the very richest fifth should own up to 40% of the national wealth - and that includes 90% of Republicans surveyed. In fact, that richest group owns 85% of the nation's wealth. Those surveyed also thought the bottom 120 million people should own around 10% of the national wealth. The reality: 0.3%
  • In 2010, the average American earned $26,487 - down over $2,000 in real terms on 2006. That's a drop of 5.27%, including inflation. If you were poor it's been an even bigger drop - the 24 million least wealthy households in America saw their average income go down by 10% From $12,276 in 2006 to $11,034 in 2010
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  • If you were super rich it went down too. The 400 wealthiest American households lost around 4%, including inflation Between 2006 and 2008
  • Part of the reason average Americans have been hit so hard is where their wealth comes from. Before the crash, middle-class Americans had 65% of their wealth tied up in their house.. But the richest 1% of the population kept most of their wealth in stocks and shares and business. So, when house prices went south, many Americans found their wealth disappearing too.
  • One in six Americans have no health insurance - 50 million people
  • Now, one in every seven Americans lives below the poverty line - that's a record 46.2 million people
  • Of every 17 Americans, at least one will be earning below the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour
  • 14.5% of Americans households are defined as "food insecure". That means for every seven households, one will have trouble putting enough food on the table
  • What about taxes? The 400 wealthiest households paid $19.6bn in taxes in 2008 - the latest year we have data. That's 1.9% of all the income tax the IRS collects
  • Is it the 99% v the 1% What do you think?
Hulland Bui

Canada's banks may still be best TSX bet for 2012 | Investing | Financial Post - 0 views

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  • In 2011, the worst year for equity investors since the 2008 global meltdown, the overall market fell by 11% while financials were down 7%. Bank stocks were largely flat.
  • Barclays Capital analyst John Aiken forecast an end to the double-digit profit growth that has powered the banks since the financial crisis. Yet less-bearish observers said risks from Europe’s debt crisis and other external threats make banks a wiser investment than more volatile energy and mining stocks. And traditional safe haven plays like telecoms and health care offer little upside after also outperforming the broader market in 2011. Instead of trying to mimic what worked in 2011, investors should look for companies in depressed sectors with good value, such as banks, said Barry Schwartz, a portfolio manager at Baskin Financial Services. “[Pipeline operator] Enbridge is not going to grow at 20% a year,” noted Mr. Schwartz. “However a bank stock could grow at 15% a year and they’re trading at 10 times earnings.” Canadian banks also offer hefty dividends, and did not cut them in the recent recession. Five of Canada’s six big lenders, including Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia and CIBC have dividend yields of more than 4%. Market veterans said this offers some downside protection if global financial and economic turmoil worsens. “It’s a sign of confidence on the part of Canadian bank management that, regardless of the outlook, they felt that they were in sufficiently good shape to start raising dividends&nbsp; again,” said Gavin Graham, president at Graham Investment Strategy. Toronto stocks got off to a solid start in the first week of 2012, with the composite index rising almost 2% to close at 12,188.64. But gains are expected to be modest this year, with the index reaching just 12,500 by the end of 2012, according to a Reuters poll. Many think problems outside of Canada, especially Europe’s sovereign debt crisis, will impede global growth and demand for commodities. This would hurt more growth-sensitive sectors like mining and energy, which account for more than 40% of Toronto’s composite index. Last year, base metal and energy issues plunged 27% and 17% respectively, adding up to a miserable year for cyclicals after strong performances in 2009 and 2010. Most of the gain from commodities in those years was driven by double-digit growth in China, the world’s largest buyer of industrial metals. But Chinese growth slowed last year, igniting a downward spiral in base metal mining stocks. Despite recent signs that the Chinese economy has steadied and the U.S. economy is picking up steam, eurozone debt worries are expected to dominate in early 2012. Many also expect the gridlock in Congress to worsen as the U.S. presidential election approaches, hurting investor sentiment and compounding the difficulties for resource stocks. Still, analysts said investors should not shun commodity-linked stocks indefinitely. Some think they could rally firmly in late 2012 if concern over Europe eases and the global economy gets back onto strong footing. “To the extent that the market focuses on the U.S., more cyclical names, more consumer-oriented names and more pro-growth names make sense,” said Stephen Wood, chief North American investment strategist at Russell Investments in New York. “Getting overly defensive at very high valuations is not something people want to do.” © Thomson Reuters 2012 Posted in: Economy, Investing, News, Outlook 2012, Trading Desk&nbsp; Tags: Bank of Montreal, banking, Canadian banks, CIBC, dividends, financials, investing, Royal Bank of Canada, the Bank of Nova Scotia, TSX Reuters U.S. Fed officials signal more policy action may be neededGoodman &amp; Co. boosts stake in American ApparelHedge funds take on IMF over Greek debtNot time for 'risky' spending in budget: FlahertyCopper vulnerable to price spikes due to shorts More from Reuters » var npDsqSso = /^[\s\S]*\bdisqus-sso=([^;]+)[\s\S]*$/i.test(document.cookie), npDsq_remote_auth_s3 = 'e30= 4ce72f958bc936ef5001150fc4d4fcef9fc4e256 1326247574', npDsq_api_key = '4ArDk9sCU7Y27T6Ni9ixYD3n90ZSiXdMtCOI9mcHFCEf6gnVGHpnKgereuyCJ3Rn'; Glad you liked it. Would you like to share? Facebook Twitter Share No thanks Sharing this page … Thanks! Close What do you think?Opinions expressed in comments that appear on our site are expressly those of the comment writer and not the Financial Post. Offensive language, personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not allowed and may result in your account being banned. Comments containing links are not permitted. Comment threads are closed after 48 hours. For more information, read our full Terms and Conditions. If you see a typo or error in this story, feel free to <
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  • Instead of trying to mimic what worked in 2011, investors should look for companies in depressed sectors with good value, such as banks, said Barry Schwartz
  • Enbridge is not going to grow at 20% a year,” noted Mr. Schwartz. “However a bank stock could grow at 15% a year and they’re trading at 10 times earnings.”
  • Many think problems outside of Canada, especially Europe’s sovereign debt crisis, will impede global growth and demand for commodities. This would hurt more growth-sensitive sectors like mining and energy, which account for more than 40% of Toronto’s composite index.
  • Last year, base metal and energy issues plunged 27% and 17% respectively, adding up to a miserable year for cyclicals after strong performances in 2009 and 2010.
pauleniar

Canada vulnerable to Europe, household debt: IMF | Economy | News | Financial Post - 1 views

  • Canada’s real gross domestic product to slow to 2.2 percent in 2011 and 1.9 percent in 2012
  • big downside risk is the spillover effect of the European crisis on financial markets and global growth
  • its key interest rate sits at 1 percent – but noted there is scope for further monetary easing if the economy weakens
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  • Canadian government’s plan to balance its budget in the medium term,
  • high household debt levels and elevated house prices are the main domestic vulnerability
  • Bank of Canada – warned that businesses will need to step up investment to pick up the slack from weak net exports and ongoing fiscal challenges.
Sabrina Almeida

Debt counsellors hopping:Post-holiday callers looking for help keep credit-advice socie... - 1 views

  • Statistics Canada reported in December that mortgage debts in this country have crossed the $1-trillion threshold and consumer credit has risen to $448 billion.
  • A Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. report released last month described the level of household debt as a "serious issue."
  • Canadians currently owe about $1.50 for every dollar they earn.
Alex Widder

Canadian Banks Hold More Risk Than Reward - 0 views

  • As a group, the major Canadian banks have outearned their cost of equity for the past decade, and we see no reason for that trend to reverse.
  • The six largest Canadian banks have extensive commercial and retail operations and large domestic branch networks. Together, they serve 92% of Canada's banking as measured by total assets.
  • Investment Canada Act, the aggregate holdings of non-Canadian residents and their associates may not exceed 25% of all shares unless reviewed by the government.
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  • oligopolistic pricing has the effect of limiting movement of home borrowers between banks.
  • discourage excessive risk taking by Canadian banks, and therefore allow them to earn higher returns on capital than U.S. banks
  • As the financial crisis began to develop, the delinquency rate for Canadian mortgages has remained consistently lower.
  • Overall, from a credit perspective, the Canadian banks weathered the financial crisis impressively
  • Since the early 1990s, the Bank of Canada has kept interest rates low, which has fueled a credit boom
  • Canadian consumers' limited ability to prepay their mortgages has cushioned the impact on banks for now.
  • the Canadian debt service ratio will increase as more mortgage loans reprice over the next five years at rates we expect to be higher.
  •  
    The article explains the structural and regulatory differences between US and Canadian banks and how this reflects on the economy as a whole
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