China’s imports plunge in new sign of economic weakness, adding to pressure on Beijing + MORE May 8th

Since you’re reading this online, there’s a good chance your device is equipped with anti-virus software from companies like Kaspersky, McAfee or Norton, all of which renew your subscription automatically each year unless tell them not to.
Many other businesses – including magazine publishers, auto insurance providers, and fitness clubs – do exactly the same thing, largely because you gave them permission when you first signed up. So do banks, if you have an investment with a maturity date, like a Guaranteed Investment Certificate.
It’s for your benefit, they maintain, so you won’t come up short, losing access or protection just when you might need it. But what happens if you think you can get a better deal elsewhere or you simply change your mind?
Renewing Or Extending Without Your Permission
In Ontario, for instance, businesses must provide you with written notice of any changes that they want to make to your contract, whether it’s being renewed or extended. They must also provide you with the option to decline the changes to your contract…

Since you’re reading this online, there’s a good chance your device is equipped with anti-virus software from companies like Kaspersky, McAfee or Norton, all of which renew your subscription automatically each year unless tell them not to.
Many other businesses – including magazine publishers, auto insurance providers, and fitness clubs – do exactly the same thing, largely because you gave them permission when you first signed up. So do banks, if you have an investment with a maturity date, like a Guaranteed Investment Certificate.
It’s for your benefit, they maintain, so you won’t come up short, losing access or protection just when you might need it. But what happens if you think you can get a better deal elsewhere or you simply change your mind?
Renewing Or Extending Without Your Permission
In Ontario, for instance, businesses must provide you with written notice of any changes that they want to make to your contract, whether it’s being renewed or extended. They must also provide you with the option to decline the changes to your contract…

The mortgage market is getting even tighter for today’s prospective home buyers. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has announced yet another slew of mortgage rules. The draft guidelines, which OSFI states “sets out principles that promote and support sound residential mortgage insurance underwriting,” have been revealed for consultation, and will be finalized on May 23.
As of June 30th, two of these important rules that will be in place:
- First lenders will have to obtain third party verification of borrowers income.
-Private insurers still use a non-traditional form of income verification and that could change soon.
Just like banks, a separate party can look into your income and stability when a person is asking for a loan. As well, cash back mortgages will not longer be available for borrowers who can’t put at least 5 per cent down.
Who Will Be Affected?
These new rules could make it harder for many to borrow. With the high cost of housing in Canada, many home buyers are getting into high-ratio mortgages just so they can get into the real estate game…

BEIJING, China – China’s imports and exports contracted again in April in a new sign of economic weakness, adding to pressure on Chinese leaders to reverse a politically dangerous slump.
Imports fell by a bigger-than-expected 16.2 per cent over a year earlier to $176.3 billion following March’s 12 per cent decline. Exports fell 6.4 per cent to $142.1 billion, adding to the previous month’s 15 per cent decline.
The unexpectedly weak data “suggest that both foreign and domestic demand has softened going into” the current quarter, said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report.
Communist leaders are trying to steer China to more sustainable growth based on domestic consumption and reduce reliance on trade. But a sharp decline since mid-2014 has raised concern about politically dangerous job losses.
To shore up growth, Beijing has cut interest rates twice since November and also lowered reserve requirements for banks to boost lending. The Communist Party leadership promised additional steps to support growth following a high-level meeting two weeks ago…

The mortgage market is getting even tighter for today’s prospective home buyers. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has announced yet another slew of mortgage rules. The draft guidelines, which OSFI states “sets out principles that promote and support sound residential mortgage insurance underwriting,” have been revealed for consultation, and will be finalized on May 23.
As of June 30th, two of these important rules that will be in place:
- First lenders will have to obtain third party verification of borrowers income.
-Private insurers still use a non-traditional form of income verification and that could change soon.
Just like banks, a separate party can look into your income and stability when a person is asking for a loan. As well, cash back mortgages will not longer be available for borrowers who can’t put at least 5 per cent down.
Who Will Be Affected?
These new rules could make it harder for many to borrow. With the high cost of housing in Canada, many home buyers are getting into high-ratio mortgages just so they can get into the real estate game…