This GIC rate is offered by Outlook Financial and was updated on 2013-03-14. Click on the link above to get more details or apply online.

I usually open new trades on Monday’s but lacked time to do the research last weekend but here I am today. Before getting started, I’m going to close 2 existing trades with one being a winner and the other a losing trade. Overall, the return of my tech stock picks has improved in the last few months but it’s always volatile so for now I’ll wait and see how things end up going. As a reminder, you can see all of my 2013 tech stock picks here. Here are the 2 trades that will be closed on today’s opening:
Long TripAdvisor (TRIP) & Short Travelzoo (TZOO)

TRIP data by YCharts
Long eBay (EBAY) & Short Yahoo (YHOO)

EBAY data by YCharts
Today’s new trade is one that I’ve done several times in the past few years, with good success mostly. I trade 2 job seeking sites, Monster and Dice. The rational remains the same on the trade. Before going further here are the numbers on these two companies:

TickerNamePriceEPSPE RatioPE Next YearReturn YTDSales GrowthAnalyst ratingBook ValueBetaRevenue/ShareSales 5Y GrowthEPS 5Y Growth

MWWMonster Worldwide Inc5…

CBC.caConservative MP defends campaign expense claimsCTV NewsConservative MP Eve Adams has taken to Twitter to defend herself against allegations that she claimed personal expenses over and above the allowable amount during the 2011 federal election campaign. According to a financial report posted to the …Personal expenses claimed by Tory MP include salon visitsCBC.caTory MP claimed visits to hair and nail salons, grooming products, and …Ottawa CitizenWhy Canada's expense scandal resembles trench warfareMacleans.caMississauga -Oye! Timesall 9 news articles »

For Lululemon Athletica Inc., it’s a common-sense, bottom-line decision. For the Toronto Stock Exchange, it’s the loss of an iconic brand born in Canada.

Canada has the worst-performing stock market in the G7 http://t.co/pduUfgu1Vz

— HuffPost Canada (@HuffPostCanada) June 11, 2013

Cdn Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study – increasing #'s of customers using self-service +emerging channels http://t.co/ZtnXCbAPB4 by @JDPower

— Canadian Underwriter (@CdnUnderwriter) June 10, 2013

Some 70% of Canadian fathers have life insurance though 40% have no idea what their policy is worth or how much their families will need, says RBC. As for the 30% without coverage, nearly half said they have enough other streams of income to support their family. Whether you have it already or are considering it, we recommend everyone read the MoneySense guide to life insurance.
A full one-third of Canadians belonging to Gen Y find it nearly impossible to save, according to a new poll for TD Canada Trust. Education costs, low salaries, debt and shopping are bigger obstacles for Gen Y compared to when Boomers were in their 20s. “There is no question that the job market is tighter, university costs higher and salary growth lower for young people today,” TD’s Raymond Chun said in a release. “With planning and discipline, young Canadians can lay the foundation for a solid financial future by diligently tracking their cash flow and creating a plan for saving and spending…

RT @steve_kee: Bill Adams and Barb Sulzenko-Laurie presenting at #alberta insurance rate board hearing in Edmonton.

— IBC (@InsuranceBureau) June 11, 2013

Travelers to acquire The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company: Travelers Companies, Inc. has agreed to… http://t.co/G0WlT10ZVE

— Canadian Underwriter (@CdnUnderwriter) June 10, 2013

Survey indicates "modest" increase in U.S. commercial property insurance prices: Commercial insurance prices i… http://t.co/3fBV6nXOyE

— Canadian Underwriter (@CdnUnderwriter) June 10, 2013

The two biggest news pieces today had their own posts but are summarized below again! News, Tips & Tricks Today is the big day on Rewards Canada where I released the 5th Annual Canada’s Top Travel Rewards Credit Card rankings. Check them out at www.rewardscanada.ca/topcc2013 The other big news is the large sign up bonus for the MBNA Best Western Rewards MasterCard, see my post here. Finally, for the second time in recent months British Airways is increasing the fuel surcharges on their Intra Europe Reward Flight saver tickets. Economy class will be going up by 5GBP and business class by 10GBP. Here is the reason why according to Avios:Unfortunately the price rise is due to factors outside of our control, such as the continued increases in government and other airport taxes across Europe. We’ve kept the increase as small as possible, the table below shows you how we can continue to offer you big savings on flights. Full details can be found here. Travel Deals Accor Hotels once again is having their 50% off sale for stays at many of their locations Worldwide…

U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday after Standard & Poor’s raised its credit outlook for the United States, but uncertainty about when or if the Federal Reserve might reduce its stimulus efforts limited gains.

Once upon a time manufacturers like Procter & Gamble (think Tide and Pampers) coupon wildly to get your attention. Now retailers are getting so good at knowing who you are and what you buy that the discounts they want to give you to make you shop are slowly being customized to each customer’s individual needs.
Here’s a story to make your blood run cold: Imagine you’re the father of a teenager who, having gone through the mail, is shocked to find coupons from a major retailer addressed to your kid offering discounts on baby clothes and other accouterments. Imagine you get a little ticked, call up the retailer and give them heck because, as you see it, these are totally inappropriate coupons for your high-school daughter. Now image that a few weeks later you discover your kid’s already pregnant!
It happened.
From the New York Times came a fascinating article of how retailers now know us so well that they can predict what we’re going to want to buy, and coupon us to steer us in the direction they want…

"Report card on Canadian alumni credit cards" – http://t.co/C7wOuoruMb

— Creditcards.Ca (@Canada_cc) June 10, 2013

Even bigger than last year’s 50,000 point sign up offer comes this 60,000 point bonus for the MBNA Best Western Rewards MasterCard.  Thanks to Rewards Canada reader Jean-Pierre H. for forwarding the email to me about this latest promotion. What can those 60,000 points get you?Three free nights at Best Western or$225 in Gift Cards or12,500 Aeroplan (or other airline) milesThose are just three examples for you. Getting this card is almost a no brainer as is it has no annual fee so just by funneling some of your credit card spend (only $2,000) to this card you can take advantage of this relatively large windfall for a no fee card! Here are the details for the card and this promotion:Limited-Time Offer: Earn up to Best Western Rewards® points! 60,000 Best Western Rewards Points is enough for three free nights or $225 in gift cards♦♦ Offer expires on August 31, 2013 No Annual Fee Receive 20,000 bonus BWR Points after your first eligible purchase††Spend $1,000 before July 31, 2013 on your new card and receive additional 30,000 bonus points†††…

BLOGGED: RBC To Hike Fixed Mortgage Rates http://t.co/uuZDGxA5e5

— RateSupermarket.ca (@RateSupermarket) June 7, 2013

Who says Canadians can't save?
According to an article from The Globe and Mail, the Canadian personal savings rate is twice that of our neighbors to the south, and nearly six times higher than it was 10 years ago.
"All the talk about the Canadian household being tapped out or out of shape is a bit overdone," Doug Porter, chief economist at BMO Nesbitt Burns, told the news source.
Data from Statistics Canada shows that the savings rate during the first quarter of 2013 was 5.5 percent, up from 5.4 percent during the final three months of 2012. That may not seem like a large improvement, but it's important to keep in mind that the original forecast for the savings rate during the fourth quarter of last year was 3.8 percent, according to Statscan.
"The savings situation looks more encouraging still when we consider the amount of money that people have been pouring into their mortgages to pay down outstanding balances," writes Rob Carrick for The Globe and Mail…

Monoline lenders (a.k.a. non-deposit-taking lenders) are an important cog in the mortgage market. Their mortgage products and low pricing improve consumer choice and force our dominant banks to be more…

RBC will increase their fixed mortgage rates this coming Monday, June 10: http://t.co/FnMEEpxvOV

— RateSupermarket.ca (@RateSupermarket) June 7, 2013

RBC is raising their rates… As expected, fixed mortgage rates have gone up.  RBC is the first of the BIG SIX to raise their rates.  RBC’s 4 yr rate special will go to 3.09% from 2.99% and their 5 yr rate special will go to 3.29% from 2.99%. Of course, these are NOT the best […]

"How to cancel credit cards after a loved one passes away" – http://t.co/zEG1WZIavr

— Creditcards.Ca (@Canada_cc) June 7, 2013

Much like last year, CIBC is once again running a promotion waiving the first year’s annual fee on their suite of premium travel credit cards. To qualify for the ‘rebate’ on your annual fee all you have to do is spend $500 on the card with the first three months of having it. The offer is good on the CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite, CIBC Aerogold Visa, CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite and CIBC Aventura World Elite MasterCard. This offer runs until June 28, 2013.Each card’s sign up links can be found here:Aerogold Visa InfiniteAerogold VisaAventura Visa InfiniteAventura World Elite MasterCardApparently you can get the same offer with no spend threshold, ie 100% rebate of the annual fee without spending a dime by either calling in your application and asking for the first year fee waived or walking into a CIBC branch and doing the same.This is a nice offering to get 15,000 Aeroplan miles for nothing as you can always cancel your card before the first year is up.  If you want even more Aeroplan miles you can even add another 20,000 Aeroplan Miles by signing up for the American Express Gold Rewards Card which is also fee-free in the first year and awards 20,000 Membership Rewards points via this link…

"Experts to Generation Y: Save with your credit card" – http://t.co/bQwllnMsEs

— Creditcards.Ca (@Canada_cc) June 2, 2013

A quiet day here in the FFB and RC world. Just some bonuses to pass along! News, Tips & Tricks Although it is only bonus offers today you really should make note of a few of them. The first of course is from Aeroplan and their latest double miles offer for stays at Choice Hotels, second is the Cathay Pacific offer for flights from Canada that had its own post last night and finally the Saudia Alfursan Buy Miles bonus. It definitely is not as lucrative as the US Airways or Aviacna TACA bonus but with proper planning there are a couple of redemptions that could be worth buying the miles for as they can be bought for as little as 2 cents each. Of course depending on availability the 50,000 miles for economy class Canada to Europe on Saudia’s SkyTeam partners (Air France, KLM, Delta). You can buy the miles for ~$1020+tax and if you can find availability you could potentially save a few hundred dollars versus buying that flight outright with the airline if there is no seat sale…

Visa Canada wants you to use your credit card for small purchases, while Desjardins gives insurance discounts based on your driving patterns.

Many young Canadians are putting their retirement at risk by not considering how much money they’ll need and delaying saving for retirement, according to a recent BMO Retirement Institute report.
Only one in 10 young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 have thought a lot about how much money they’ll need to save for retirement. And 27 per cent admit they haven’t even started saving for life after work.
Poor planning? Maybe. But, rather than worry about retirement, I’d suggest most young people should actually make getting out of debt their top financial priority.
Debt Reduction Takes Priority
Don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot to be said for the smart use of credit to reach a goal like home ownership or a college education. There’s also a big difference between someone who’s just finishing grad school and a 30-year-old electrician.
But they do have one thing in common: both need to be smarter about how much they borrow and what they do with that borrowed money…

BLOGGED: Spotlight on Mortgages: June 7, 2013 http://t.co/hIadWelxbY

— RateSupermarket.ca (@RateSupermarket) June 7, 2013

BMO settles $70 million lawsuit over mortgage scam: http://t.co/PVLuKHe1bU

— RateSupermarket.ca (@RateSupermarket) June 6, 2013

Company: Home Trust Company Position Title: Mortgage Officer Previous Experience Required: 2-5 years+ Licences or Registrations Required: No licences required. University degree or equivalent experience required Location of Position: Halifax,…

We could be in for a slow summer in the mortgage market, thanks to housing moderation and mortgage rule tightening over the last 12 months. This may have contributed to…

One of Canada’s biggest mortgage lenders says many of its rates are going up Monday.

June is upon us and with that there seems to be a lot of buy/share/transfer bonuses out! The semi-worthwhile ones are the Diners Club to Avios, US Airways share miles and Hyatt buy points offers. As always, I wouldn’t transfer/buy unless you have a somewhat immediate need for the miles/points (booking for travel News, Tips & Tricks It appears that Virgin Atlantic may be following Air France KLM’s lead by reducing fuel surcharges on Economy Class Flying Club award tickets. (HT View from the Wing) Meanwhile, LoyaltyLobby lets us know that Air France KLM is now offering First Class tickets in their selection of reduced mileage Prom o Awards. Noticably absent for the summer season are any North American routes. Bonus Offers Air Canada Aeroplan- 30% Bonus Aeroplan miles at Points.com when you exchange or trade your points for Aeroplan Miles. More… Until Jun 30, 13British Airways Executive Club- 30% Bonus Avios when you transfer Diners Club Club Rewards Points into British Airways Avios…

The preliminary numbers from the March fiscal year end are in for Canada’s deficit, and there’s some good news: it has decreased to $18.3 million, compared to $21.6 million as of last year. It’s an indicator the federal government’s plan to cut the deficit is on track, and it’s good news for the Conservative government, which looks to balance the books by 2015.
A lower deficit is also very impactful for the average Canadian. Let’s break down the numbers and take a look at how the deficit factors into our nation’s economy recovery, and what it means for Canadians.
Breaking Down the Numbers
The Conservative government’s cost cutting plans look to be paying dividends. A decrease in program expenses lead to $3.4 billion in savings. This is largely due to job restructuring in the public sector, as the federal government looks to downsize its bloated workforce. Canada’s excellent credit rating also looks to be paying off; public debt charges are down by $2 billion, as we saved on interest payments our federal debt…

One of the most frustrating things about credit card rewards programs is that you have to have a credit card. While I like to use my credit cards to earn rewards, and use those rewards for cash back and free stuff, not everyone is comfortable with the idea of credit… even for rewards.
If you want to earn rewards, but not use a credit card to do it, a great option is the Scotiabank Scene debit card. With the Scotiabank Scene card, you get the great benefits of an account with a trusted bank, and you don’t have to worry about using credit.
Scotiabank Scene Debit Card
Many people like using debit cards because they combine the convenience of a credit card with a checking account. Paying with plastic is easier and more convenient than paying with cash, since you don’t have to carry around a lot of bills. Just swipe your debit card. (Or, if your Scotiabank debit card is equipped with Interac Flash, you can just tap it against the terminal, or wave it front of the terminal, as long as the terminal is equipped for contactless payment…

Are TV ads encouraging credit card use for all purchases sending the wrong message? http://t.co/BsZsl4T0Nw

— RateSupermarket.ca (@RateSupermarket) June 6, 2013

"Canadians managing credit card debt better than expected" – http://t.co/wN0bKj4Aat

— Creditcards.Ca (@Canada_cc) June 1, 2013

We could be in for a slow summer in the mortgage market, thanks to housing moderation and mortgage rule tightening over the last 12 months. This may have contributed to…

One of Canada’s biggest mortgage lenders says many of its rates are going up Monday.

Among all the ups and downs in Canada's housing market over the last few months, one thing has remained certain: Mortgage rates are low. This has spurred homebuyers and homeowners alike to obtain new mortgages or refinance their current ones, offsetting the cooldown in sales due to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's restrictions on government-backed mortgages.
However, some industry observers are exploring the possibility that rates may be rising sooner rather than later.
"If you're house hunting or thinking of refinancing, and you don't have a mortgage rate hold, consider getting one," writes Rob McLister for Canadian Mortgage Trends. "Canada's 5-year bond yield just pierced a three-month high. That means – barring a big reversal - there's a good likelihood that fixed rates will ratchet higher. (Bond yields steer fixed mortgage pricing, most of the time.)"

McLister goes on to point out that some lenders have already announced higher rates, increasing five to 10 basis points on longer fixed-rate home loans…

The bond markets have been particularly volatile for the past few weeks on fears that the credit situations in places such as Cyprus could spiral out of control and bring the global markets down with it. The loss of confidence in some of these European Union nations is spiking up yields on bonds in countries with strong ties to the continent. Canada is no exception we have recently seen a spike in rates up to 1.10 as of June 6. Not a huge number, but it does indicate that fixed mortgage rates are poised to rise. Here’s how it works
Bonds and Fixed Mortgage Rates
When a bank offers you an interest rate on a loan (mortgage) they are being guided by the rate they are getting themselves. This market rate is what they are paying to borrow the money for you from either their customers or other institutions. They pay those people a smaller amount of interest on the loan that they can lend to you for a higher rate to make a profit, also referred to as a spread. If it’s costing the bank more money to borrow, that cost will be downloaded on to the lender…

BLOGGED: Spotlight on Mortgages: June 7, 2013 http://t.co/hIadWelxbY

— RateSupermarket.ca (@RateSupermarket) June 7, 2013

"Canadians managing credit card debt better than expected" – http://t.co/wN0bKj4Aat

— Creditcards.Ca (@Canada_cc) June 1, 2013

"Experts to Generation Y: Save with your credit card" – http://t.co/bQwllnMsEs

— Creditcards.Ca (@Canada_cc) June 2, 2013

The preliminary numbers from the March fiscal year end are in for Canada’s deficit, and there’s some good news: it has decreased to $18.3 million, compared to $21.6 million as of last year. It’s an indicator the federal government’s plan to cut the deficit is on track, and it’s good news for the Conservative government, which looks to balance the books by 2015.
A lower deficit is also very impactful for the average Canadian. Let’s break down the numbers and take a look at how the deficit factors into our nation’s economy recovery, and what it means for Canadians.
Breaking Down the Numbers
The Conservative government’s cost cutting plans look to be paying dividends. A decrease in program expenses lead to $3.4 billion in savings. This is largely due to job restructuring in the public sector, as the federal government looks to downsize its bloated workforce. Canada’s excellent credit rating also looks to be paying off; public debt charges are down by $2 billion, as we saved on interest payments our federal debt…

June is upon us and with that there seems to be a lot of buy/share/transfer bonuses out! The semi-worthwhile ones are the Diners Club to Avios, US Airways share miles and Hyatt buy points offers. As always, I wouldn’t transfer/buy unless you have a somewhat immediate need for the miles/points (booking for travel News, Tips & Tricks It appears that Virgin Atlantic may be following Air France KLM’s lead by reducing fuel surcharges on Economy Class Flying Club award tickets. (HT View from the Wing) Meanwhile, LoyaltyLobby lets us know that Air France KLM is now offering First Class tickets in their selection of reduced mileage Prom o Awards. Noticably absent for the summer season are any North American routes. Bonus Offers Air Canada Aeroplan- 30% Bonus Aeroplan miles at Points.com when you exchange or trade your points for Aeroplan Miles. More… Until Jun 30, 13British Airways Executive Club- 30% Bonus Avios when you transfer Diners Club Club Rewards Points into British Airways Avios…

Are TV ads encouraging credit card use for all purchases sending the wrong message? http://t.co/BsZsl4T0Nw

— RateSupermarket.ca (@RateSupermarket) June 6, 2013