Financial Investment Services

Canadian Marketplace: Canucks go on weekend shopping spree for post Christmas bargains.  These bargain hunters slipped and slid their way to thousands of malls and stores across the country in search of huge cut rate prices not seen in the recent past.  Some camped out overnight in sub zero weather, while others held tail gate parties to pass the time  Due to the withering economy some retailers offered discounts of as much as 80%.

• Canadian Marketplace: Could things turn around or is the TSX headed for a dismal and gloomy  2009 as the global recession continues?  One can only assume the worst following the staggering drop of almost 40% from the start of 2008, led by steep declines in resource stocks as demand dropped for oil and metals.  Adding to the great destruction, financial stocks tumbled as banks and insurance companies scrambled to deal with  a string of writedowns connected to the collapsing US housing sector.

• US Marketplace: The general decline in prices across the board is giving cash a positive return in real terms.  Today’s dollar is worth more tomorrow because goods and services are cheaper with each passing day.  There are exceptions of course, as things like medical care keep rising.  But generally speaking, prices are falling and that means that the average Joe’s paycheck is rising in real terms even if the net amount stays the same.

• US Marketplace: America’s search for cleaner electricity has developers studying dozens of government flood-controlled dams across the country to see if it makes financial sense to retrofit them with hydroelectric turbines.  Some of the early dams were even built with hydropower in mind.  The tunnels had been capped during construction and only now are being studied as to the economic benefit of pulling the plugs and installing turbines.  Of course extensive studies would preclude this endeavour.

• International News: Venezuela to seize gold concessions as oil falls.

…..Doug T