2015 Financial Predictions – March Update + MORE Mar 15th

This GIC rate is offered by DUCA Financial Services and was updated on 2014-06-13. Click on the link above to get more details or apply online.

EDMONTON — Ranchers and farmers in western Alberta say they are losing money because too many hungry elk are using their fields as a free all-you-can-eat buffet.
Growing herds are munching, trampling and pooping on grain and hay crops from the Peace region south to the United States border.
Fed up with the voracious ungulates, two municipalities want the provincial government to make it easier to hunt elk to reduce their numbers.
“The government hasn’t come up with any real solutions to the problem,” said Dale Gervais, reeve of the Municipal District of Greenview. “Landowners are getting really tired of feeding elk.”
Alberta’s Agriculture Financial Services Corp. estimates crop damage from wildlife in the Peace region alone was almost $7 million in 2011 and 2012.
Gervais said the problem is getting worse because there aren’t enough sure-shot hunters. Statistics show the hunting success rate is less than 20 per cent.
To put pressure on the government, municipalities have drafted resolutions to be voted on this week by delegates attending the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties convention in Edmonton…

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For the last couple of years, just for kicks, I made some financial predictions by looking into my cloudy crystal ball. Here is a recap of what I think might happen in 2015 and where I’m at with some predictions.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average will finish the year at 19,400.

It opened 2015 at 17,823.07. At the time of this post it is at 17,749.

The S&P/TSX Composite will finish the year at 15,700.

It opened 2015 at 14,635.07. At the time of this post it is at 14,731.

Our Canadian Dollar will finish the year at $0.85 compared to the US Dollar, relatively flat for the year.

It opened 2015 at $0.848. At the time of this post it is at $0.78.
The following Canadian companies will increase their dividend at least once in 2015:

TransCanada Pipelines (TRP)

In February, TRP increased their dividend by 8%.

Telus (T)

We will probably need to wait until summer 2015 to see if Telus will hike their dividend.  I think they will by about 5%…

TORONTO – The coming week will likely be a volatile one on North American markets as traders weigh the timing of interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the possibility of another big correction in oil prices.
The Fed will be the major focus of the week as the central bank holds its meeting on interest rates amid much speculation about when the era of interest rates held near zero since the 2008 financial collapse is going to end.
A steady stream of positive economic data has persuaded many that the Fed will make a key change in the language in its statement on Wednesday. The Fed has emphasized for months that it planned to be “patient” in starting to hike rates. But it’s possible that word may be missing from the announcement as it prepares markets for higher rates.
“I think that’s what people are expecting,” said John Stephenson, president and CEO of Stephenson & Co. Capital Management.
“I think that’s likely, I think the Fed is being extremely accommodative over the last six years…

This GIC rate is offered by Oaken Financial and was updated on 2014-12-19. Click on the link above to get more details or apply online.