Business

Canada’s Top 5 Banks Dump Assets as Recession Looms

Published

1 year ago

2023-11-09

Canada's Top 5 Banks Dump Assets as Recession Looms

As Canada’s economy enters into a recession, the main banks are attempting to reinforce their balance sheets against mounting bad loans, but instead of turning to shareholders for funding, analysts predict the lenders may sell non-core assets.

With the economy slowing and fewer jobs being added, banks anticipate that more individuals would fail on credit card and mortgage payments, reducing earnings.

Banks have typically raised capital by issuing shares or bonds, but with the stock prices of the top five banks down between 5% and 11.5% this year, they believe that additional equity dilution is not the best option.

“Canadian banks are running a little bit tighter on capital than they have in the past,” Adrienne Young, director of corporate credit research at Franklin Templeton Canada, explained.

“What they would much rather do is… find small non-core assets that they’re not going to grow very aggressively anytime soon and say, right, it has done its job for us, moving on.”

Last month, Bank of Nova Scotia returned to Canadian Tyre its ownership investment in the retailer’s financial services section, raising C$895 million ($650 million), while Bank of Montreal is shutting down its indirect vehicle lending business and apparently considering to sell its RV loan portfolio.

While shareholders and analysts declined to mention specific assets, they stated that banks may be able to sell portions of their loan books, which might be appealing to fixed-income investors and private equity firms.

Since 2000, the five Canadian banks have spent around C$147 billion on acquisitions, acquiring credit-card portfolios, wealth and asset management organisations, and smaller regional banks in the United States and elsewhere as part of their expansion objectives.

In August, Scotiabank, which has a CET1 ratio of 12.7%, stated that it was preparing for a higher capital requirement.

Some experts have speculated that Royal Bank of Canada may need to raise cash as it nears the completion of its acquisition of HSBC’s domestic operations, but the bank has stated that the merger will be completed smoothly.

Following the completion of the HSBC Canada transaction, RBC expects its CET1 ratio to remain above 12%.

According to Anthony Visano, head of investment analysis at investment firm Kingwest & Co., freezing dividend growth could reduce the need to sell assets.

Bank of Canada Rate Hikes

Meanwhile, more interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada are still on the table, as its governing council is divided on whether rates need to be raised further.

The central bank issued a summary of deliberations today, outlining the conversations that governing council members had in the run-up to its Oct. 25 rate decision. The summary shows that members of the governing council are divided on whether interest rates are high enough.

“Some members believed that raising the policy rate would be more likely than not necessary to return inflation to target.” Others saw the most plausible scenario as one in which a 5% policy rate would be sufficient to return inflation to the 2% objective if it remained at that level for a long enough period of time,” according to the summary.

The Bank of Canada finally opted to remain patient, but members of the governing council agreed to reconsider whether rates needed to climb further.

The head of the Bank of Canada, stated this week that companies are normally hesitant to raise their prices for fear of losing customers, but strong inflation has made them considerably more eager to do so recently, without fear of consumers tapping out.

The Canadian inflation rate dipped to 3.8% in September, although underlying pricing pressures have not eased significantly in recent months.

The central bank notes that core inflation measurements, which exclude volatile price movements, have maintained in the 3.5 to 4.0 percent range over the last year.

The Bank of Canada’s governing board attributed the Bank’s continued high inflation to a variety of causes, including rising housing prices.

The central bank’s interest rate increases are largely to blame, as they have resulted in higher mortgage interest rates for Canadians.

However, the central bank has stated that other shelter costs remain high, owing to housing market imbalances.

“Higher interest rates would normally exert downward pressure on house prices and other costs that are closely linked to house prices, such as maintenance, taxes and insurance,” according to the Bank of England.

“However, the economy’s ongoing structural shortage of housing supply was keeping house prices elevated.” And Canada’s rapid population growth had exacerbated the existing housing supply-demand imbalance.”

Air Canada Resumes Directs Flights to Thailand

Air Canada Resumes Directs Flights from Vancouver to Thailand

Geoff Thomas

Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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Business

Subsidies for Electric Vehicles Cut as Consumer Interest Fades

Published

4 days ago

2024-11-04

Geoff Thomas

Electric vehicles (EVs) are still considerably more expensive than traditional alternatives.

Pressure is building on Canada’s electric vehicle manufacturers, and several are rethinking their stance on E.V.s in favor of plug-in hybrids. Automobile manufacturers are now bracing themselves for an even more challenging era in the Canadian market for electric vehicles (E.V.s).

President Kristian Aquilina of General Motors Canada claims that support and expectations are misaligned because the Canadian government is reducing subsidies for electric vehicles while trying to phase out gas-powered cars.

Manufacturers find pushing for an all-electric future in Canada increasingly difficult due to fewer consumer financial incentives and increasingly strict sales targets.

With subsidies totaling up to C$12,000 (about $8,500), Canadian consumers may save a tonne of money on electric automobiles. The federal government offers a rebate of up to $5,000 Canadian, and the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia provide further incentives of up to $7,000 and $4,000, respectively.

Ford lost about 2,000 US for every EV it sold in the first three months of the year.

Ford lost about $132,000 US for every E.V. it sold in the first three months of the year.

Ontario, which eliminated rebates in 2018, had the lowest market share for electric vehicles compared to Quebec and British Columbia, two regions that offered bigger incentives and thereby drove E.V. adoption in Canada.

Although this backing is dwindling, the province of Quebec has now declared that all subsidies will end in 2027. In June, the British Columbia government restricted incentives to a smaller subset of E.V. purchasers for “available funding” and higher-than-expected E.V. sales growth.

These reductions indicate a larger pattern: provincial governments reevaluate the sustainability of taxpayer-financed incentives for E.V.s as budget deficits widen.

With lofty goals to cut pollution from gas-powered cars and increase sales of electric vehicles, the Canadian government has reduced subsidies for these vehicles. Electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles will be mandatory for all new light-duty vehicle sales in Canada by 2035.

B.C. needs to step up with incentives for consumers to buy used EVs, some opposition critics say.

Some opposition critics say that B.C. needs to step up with incentives for consumers to buy used E.V.s.

To meet our intermediate goals, 20% of new sales must be electric vehicles (E.V.s) by 2026 and 60% by 2030. Car companies are already under a lot of pressure due to dwindling incentives and increasing demands, and the clock is ticking faster by the second.

In addition, these rules impose new forms of responsibility. Automakers that do not reach their provincial sales targets may be subject to financial fines imposed by provinces such as British Columbia.

Canadian manufacturers are already under financial pressure from federal compliance credit system standards, which they must meet or face deficits. This system gives them credit for electric vehicle sales and infrastructure improvements, but it’s not without its challenges.

“The timing is not necessarily lining up very well, in that the purchase incentive support comes off just as mandates and regulations start to bite,” GMC Canada President Kristian Aquilina told Bloomberg. “It must make a difference.

Therefore, we must consider that. Despite the cutbacks, Aquilina argued that the government’s investment in enhancing the charging infrastructure could benefit E.V. sales.

Tesla Sales Fall As More Electric Vehicles Crowd the Market

Tesla Sales Fall Again As More Automakers Crowd Electric Vehicle Market

Geoff Thomas

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Business

Chewy Slides After Filing Shows 3rd-Biggest Shareholder, ‘Roaring Kitty,’ Sold His Stake

Published

1 week ago

2024-10-30

Kiara Grace

Washington — Chewy shares fell about 2% overnight Wednesday after a regulatory filing showed that Roaring Kitty, a meme stock trader, sold his interest in the online pet retailer.

According to a beneficial ownership document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, Roaring Kitty, whose legal name is Keith Gill, sold all his Chewy shares, totaling 6.6% of the company.

Chewy Slides After Filing Shows Third-Biggest Shareholder, ‘Roaring Kitty,’ Sold His Stake

Plantation, Florida-based Chewy dropped 1.9% after hours to $26.19 per share.

Gill, an investor at the core of the meme stock craze, bought more than 9 million shares of Chewy in July, making him the company’s third-largest stakeholder.

Gill built a name for himself in 2021 by rallying ordinary investors around GameStop. At the time, the video game shop was fighting to stay in business, and major Wall Street hedge funds and investors were betting against it or shorting the stock. But Gill and those who agreed with him altered GameStop’s direction by purchasing thousands of shares despite practically all acknowledged criteria indicating that the firm was in deep peril.

Chewy Slides After Filing Shows Third-Biggest Shareholder, ‘Roaring Kitty,’ Sold His Stake

That triggered what is known as a “short squeeze,” in which large investors who had bet on GameStop were obliged to buy its swiftly increasing stock to offset significant losses.

Gill has expressed confidence in GameStop Chairman and CEO Ryan Cohen’s ability to revamp the company following his success at Chewy. Cohen cofounded Chewy in 2011 and stepped down as CEO in 2018.

SOURCE | AP

Kiara Grace

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics. Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Business

Canada CBC News CEO Catherine Tait Recalled to Parliamentary Committee

Published

1 week ago

2024-10-30

Geoff Thomas

Catherine Tait won't rule out taking bonus once she leaves CBC/Radio-Canada

Canada CBC News reports that MPs have voted to recall CBC CEO Catherine Tait to a Commons committee for questioning, only a week after her last appearance, over the awarding of $18 million in bonuses to Canada CBC news executives.

The Conservatives, the Bloc Québécois, and the NDP joined forces to re-invite Ms. Tait, her successor Marie-Philippe Bouchard, and Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge to appear before the Commons Heritage Committee.

Ms. Tait, who will relinquish her position as CEO and president of CBC/Radio Canada in January, addressed the committee last week. The House of Commons has passed a motion recalling her before the conclusion of her term, and she is now subject to an additional two hours of interrogation, which includes inquiries regarding bonuses.

MPs also resolved to summon Quebec broadcasting executive Marie-Philippe Bouchard, appointed as the new chief of CBC/Radio-Canada last week, to appear before she begins her new job following a House of Commons chamber debate.

Catherine Tait Exit Package

Catherine Tait rejected the Conservatives’ requests to deny an exit package, including bonuses, when she departed the position in January during last week’s committee hearing.

She also defended the award of $18.4 million in incentives to 1,194 staff members for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which concluded in March, following the broadcaster’s achievement of performance indicators.

Kevin Waugh, a Conservative committee member who introduced the motion, stated that his party aimed to ensure Ms. Tait was “accountable to taxpayers” before her departure in January.

He informed The Globe and Mail that “Canadians are dissatisfied with the bonuses” and that Catherine Tait‘s exit package, which will not be disclosed, is a cause for concern.

“I am apprehensive that she has not received her bonuses in over two years, and that the Minister of Heritage or Privy Council will lavish her with bonuses when she departs in January,” he stated.

The Liberals opposed a portion of the motion that claimed that “the Liberal threat to cut funding” had resulted in the elimination of hundreds of jobs at CBC/Radio-Canada.

Defunding CBC News Canada

The Heritage Minister informed The Globe that the claim was “hypocritical,” as the Conservatives intended to completely defund CBC.

“The Conservatives’ actions today are a clear example of hypocrisy.” Ms. St-Onge stated that performance bonuses increased by 65% during the Harper Conservatives’ tenure, while CBC News Atlantic Canada experienced substantial budget cutbacks.

“As a government, we do not require any lessons from a party that has pledged to reduce the funding of CBC/Radio-Canada and the 8,000 jobs associated with it during its campaign.”

During the Tuesday debate, NDP MP Niki Ashton stated that her party endorses the “banning of executive bonuses” at CBC News Atlantic Canada but is opposed to “the Conservatives’ full frontal attack” on the broadcaster.

She stated, “We require a robust public broadcaster, but not one that distributes executive bonuses and eliminates positions.”

If the Conservatives establish the next government, they intend to deprive the CBC of public funding while maintaining French services.

Catherine Tait defended CBC and rebuffed MPs’ assaults during last week’s committee hearing. “It is evident that the members of this committee are making a concerted effort to discredit the organization and vilify me,” she stated.