Noah Zivitz

Managing Editor, BNN Bloomberg

Archive

The S&P/TSX Composite Index enters the new week riding an 11-session winning streak. Over that span, Canadian stocks have risen almost eight per cent and closed Friday at the highest level since Nov. 8. Should point out there was lots of interest on Friday and over the weekend in Portfolio Managemenet Corp. Managing Director Norman Levine’s comments on Market Call Friday about dabbling in energy stocks because “things can’t get worse than they are.”

ALMOST HALF OF CANADIANS ON BRINK OF INSOLVENCY: SURVEY

According to a new survey conducted for MNP, 46 per cent of Canadians are within $200 of not being able to pay their bills every month. Nearly the same proportion say they'll have to take on more debt to cover their expenses over the next year, suggesting an alarming number of consumers are stuck in financial quicksand. What's the solution? What are the implications for the housing market? And where does this leave the Bank of Canada? Lots for us to consider today.

CHINA SLOWDOWN

New data shows China's economy grew 6.6 per cent last year, the slowest annual rate since 1990. Begs the question of how this factors into trade negotiations with the U.S. before their tariff standstill agreement expires March 1.  

MAY’S PLAN B

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May will present her new Brexit withdrawal plan to Parliament today after her initial strategy was shot down by lawmakers last week. Multiple reports suggest she’ll try to rally support from within her party and the Democratic Unionist Party by focusing on the Irish backstop.

OTHER NOTABLE STORIES

-Barrick Gold says all options for its Lumwana copper mine will have to be considered amid ongoing negotiations with the government of Zambia and proposed tax changes that could “imperil” the mine.

-ShawCor is buying storage tank-maker ZCL Composites for $10 per share, for a total equity value of $308 million. 

-Quebec’s culture minister released a letter she sent to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, urging him to remove footage of the Lac-Mégantic disaster from Bird Box and another of his company’s productions. See the letter here.

-The partial U.S. government shutdown is now into a 31st day.

NOTABLE RELEASES/EVENTS

-8:00 a.m. ET: International Monetary Fund releases World Economic Outlook Update

-12:00 p.m. ET: Ontario Premier Doug Ford delivers speech to Economic Club in Toronto

-U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May expected to present new Brexit to Parliament

Every morning BNN Bloomberg's Managing Editor Noah Zivitz writes a ‘chase note’ to BNN Bloomberg's editorial staff listing the stories and events that will be in the spotlight that day. Have it delivered to your inbox before the trading day begins by heading to www.bnnbloomberg.ca/subscribe.