China’s Roller Coaster Stock Market Returns

The Chinese equity market is characterized by booms and busts. Since 1996, the upward and downward movements in the market has been violent. For example, during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-09 the MSCI China Index lost 65% of its value. From 2004 thru the peak in 2008, the index soared by an astonishing 757%. …

Continue reading ‘China’s Roller Coaster Stock Market Returns’ »

Canada: Households’ Savings Rate and Indebtedness Ratio

The Canadian Household Savings Ratio stood at 8.1% in Q4, 2015 according to a new report by the OECD. Currently the US personal savings rate stands at 5.4%. The savings rate in Canada tend to be traditionally higher than in the U.S. Click to enlarge However Canadian household’s debt is also growing at an alarming rate. …

Continue reading ‘Canada: Households’ Savings Rate and Indebtedness Ratio’ »

The Leverage Ratio of Canadian Banks Has Declined

The leverage ratio measures the ability of a bank to absorb losses. This ratio is important because soundness of a bank is put to test during a financial crisis and strong banks usually tend to weather storms than weak banks. During the 2008-09 crisis, many small banks in the US failed due to this factor. From …

Continue reading ‘The Leverage Ratio of Canadian Banks Has Declined’ »

Tax Avoidance by Corporate Firms Costs the U.S. Billions in Lost Revenue Each Year

Tax avoidance by large US firms is a major issue that gets very little attention in the media. Heavy lobbying (lobbying is legal, bribing is illegal) by these firms ensures that the regulators and politicians perpetually turns a blind eye to the issue. Every year billions of dollars in taxes owed never reach the state’s …

Continue reading ‘Tax Avoidance by Corporate Firms Costs the U.S. Billions in Lost Revenue Each Year’ »

Comparing the Performance of Australian and Canadian Stocks

The economies of Australia and Canada are similar in many ways. For instance,both are resource-based economies. While Australia is dependent on China for the export of minerals such as iron ore Canada is the largest trading partner of the US and exports natural resources like Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Timber, etc, to the US. I wrote …

Continue reading ‘Comparing the Performance of Australian and Canadian Stocks’ »