Cheap Whole Foods prices won’t trigger price wars + MORE Aug 31st

TORONTO — Cheaper avocados at Whole Foods might get fans of the organic grocery chain salivating over savings, but retail analysts say it probably won’t launch price wars at Canadian supermarkets.
Amazon took ownership of Whole Foods Monday and immediately decided to cut the cost of some of its pricey organic and specialty foods, an approach that’s designed to resonate directly with the chain’s best customers and create buzz in the marketplace.

Do’s and don’ts of cutting your grocery bill »

Among the items reduced at a Vancouver Whole Foods location this week were Colombian Hass avocados, which are now $1 cheaper at $1.99 each, and organic baby spinach which costs $3.49, or 50 cents less than a week ago.
Elsewhere in the store, organic black quinoa has been reduced by 80 cents per 100 grams to $1.59 and Whole Foods’ private label organic almond beverage in vanilla is $1 cheaper at $2.49.
But the Whole Foods price cuts won’t be particularly effective in attracting consumers on the hunt for deals, said Mark Lee, associate professor at the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management…

This series by personal finance specialist Amanda Reaume focuses on how to improve something that many people overlook: your credit score. These posts will give you tips and tricks to improve your chances of getting approved for better rates when you apply for credit – leading to better student loans, car loans and even mortgages.
September is almost in full swing and if you’re a university or college student, then you’re probably comfortably settling into your routine and dorm room. As you buy books, begin assignments and make new friends, the last thing you’re likely thinking about is your credit.
But even at this stage of life, it’s critical that you start planning for your future. That means making smart credit decisions now that will pay off later in life, saving you up to tens of thousands of dollars. Adopting solid habits while you’re a student can lead to lower interest rates when borrowing money for large purchases such as car loans or mortgages. You might even be able to refinance your student loans after you graduate and pay a much lower interest rate…

Home Capital Group (TSX:HCG) is standing behind Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway bid to increase its stake in the company after leading proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services advised investors to vote against the deal.
The Toronto-based alternative lender said Wednesday its prospects have improved since the American billionaire’s conglomerate announced in June that it would support Home Capital through an initial investment of $153 million for a 19.99 per cent stake in the company and by providing it with a $2 billion line of credit. That investment required only regulatory approval, which it received at the end of June.
Berkshire also agreed to invest a further $246.7 million, at $10.30 per share, which would increase its indirect stake in Home Capital to 38.4 per cent. This round requires shareholder approval in a vote on Sept. 12.
Despite ISS’s warning that the proposed second tranche will do little to enhance the already-improved stability of the company, Home Capital says the larger investment will lead to a stronger commitment from Berkshire to the long-term success of the lender…