Central banks can use quantitative easing to boost the economy during a downturn, but it’s best used only in case of emergency.
3 minutes
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a crisis of cash – and showed just how important liquidity is to the financial system.
4 minutes
Fiscal policy is usually carefully set out in budgets after months of consultations. But sometimes, quick changes are needed to help the economy when shifts in monetary policy don’t do the trick.
3 minutes
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Quantitative easing refers to a central bank buying government bonds and other assets to stimulate the economy and return it to full employment.
Banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Canada or the European Centr...
In the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the extent of the damage the economy and financial markets would suffer started to become clear, the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada made a series of increasingly la...
When the economy is struggling, it’s usually central banks that will step in to give it a little nudge through a shift in monetary policy. But when that’s not enough, governments can step in with fiscal policy changes.
“Hi...
Accounting standards tell companies how to report their financial results. They help create a standardized system of reporting so that analysts, lenders and other financial professionals and investors can compare companies an...
It’s the job of financial advisors and wealth managers to create the right asset mix for clients, so whether you have the kind of advisor who’s constantly updating your holdings or one who sets it and forgets it, there will b...
Financial compliance is about making sure a company follows the rules. It’s meant to maintain investor confidence and make sure markets are efficient, transparent and fair. Over time, compliance systems have become more sophi...
Markets have cycles. They can be volatile and prone to sudden drops. But there’s a big difference between the usual ups and downs of financial markets and the extreme highs and lows that come with financial bubbles.
Over h...
Banks are one of the cornerstones of our financial system and they play a key role in providing liquidity to markets, individuals and businesses. But in order to fulfill their role, these institutions need a strong balance sh...
Paul Volcker, who served as the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve during a period of dangerously high inflation, died on Dec. 8, 2019 at the age of 92.
The days that followed were filled with tributes, editorials and obitu...
Year-end office parties can be a great opportunity to unwind with colleges and celebrate successes achieved throughout the year.
They can also be an opportunity to meet and network with people who aren’t a part of your day...
Loonshots
By Safi Bahcall
- Less financially-focused but chockfull of valuable insights about success and innovation.
- Includes behavioural analysis and examines the commonalities that support great success and “wild” i...
Alternative investments can be trickier to evaluate than traditional companies because so many of the traditional signposts aren’t there, but if you’re able to help a valuable start-up develop its potential, the payoff can be...
What are negative interest rates?
Negative rates happen when central banks aggressively ease monetary policy, setting their benchmark rate below zero, so that other banks have to pay to store their money instead...
While much of the news around the legalization of cannabis focused on the recreational market and the highs (and lows) of pot stocks, a medical company has been crunching the numbers and shifting through data to bring some mu...
It can be difficult for busy capital markets professionals to find the time or energy to network, and making those connections can be especially difficult for women who don’t always have the same access to senior leadership a...
Fund managers are increasingly looking to incorporate ESG and environmental impact considerations into their portfolios, but they need clear definitions to understand what they are investing in – and to ensure those bonds, st...
If you’re looking for versatile retirement income, your best bet may be to get to know the TFSA (Tax Free Savings Account).
Consider it a savings account that can provide long-term compounded growth without the intrusion o...
Geopolitical events can have a big impact on oil prices, but anyone looking to invest in the oil sector would be wise to look beyond these headline-grabbing (but temporary) impacts and consider what’s likely to affect the com...
While a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA) are both highly sought-after professional degrees, experts say the type of advanced credentials you opt for should really be ...
Monetary policy is one of the tools that a national government uses to influence its economy. Using its monetary authority to control the supply and availability of money, a government attempts to influence the overall level ...
Brian Carney, a Portfolio Manager at Canso Investment Counsel -- and expert on the U.S. Federal Reserve – came by FP Headquarters so we could pick his brain on all things finance with a mini lesson on the Fed, of course.
S...
What’s the harm in urging the U.S. Federal Reserve to pursue expansionary monetary policy to achieve one’s Oval Office aspirations?
In short, mistimed interest rate cuts can fuel runaway inflation and throw economic decisi...