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U.S. banking system stronger, but mortgage lending still tight: Bernanke

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday the U.S. banking system has made substantial progress toward becoming healthier since the financial crisis but noted there still were problem lending areas. “Conditions in the banking system — and the financial … Continue reading

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Canada’s new home prices rise more than expected

OTTAWA — The prices of new homes in Canada rose by 0.3% in March from February, the 12th consecutive monthly increase, Statistics Canada said on Thursday. The increase was slightly greater than the 0.2% advance predicted by market operators. Compared … Continue reading

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Ontario leads gains as March building permits rise

Statistics Canada says the pace of construction picked up again in March as the value of building permits issued rose 4.7 per cent to 6.8 billion. This follows a 7.6 per cent increase in February. The increase was led by … Continue reading

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Vancouver real estate cools – could Toronto be next?

Prices continue to rise in Canada’s two largest real estate markets, but a closer look at the numbers shows two housing markets headed in different directions. Both cities have been singled out by the Canadian Real Estate Association for either … Continue reading

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Canadian banks got $114B ‘bailout’ during recession

Canada’s biggest banks accepted tens of billions in bailout funds during the recession, according to a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Canada’s banking system is often lauded for being one of the world’s safest. But … Continue reading

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Average Canadian home price falls in March

Average housing prices in Canada edged down slightly last month but sales rose to the highest monthly level in close to two years. The latest nation-wide housing numbers were released by the Canadian Real Estate Agency on Monday. According to … Continue reading

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Housing starts up in March with more condos, apartments

OTTAWA — CMHC says the pace of Canadian housing starts remained brisk in March, with construction of apartments and condos remaining strong. The housing agency estimates there were 14,517 actual starts in March, which translates to a seasonally adjusted annual … Continue reading

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Canadians conflicted about timing of home purchase: poll

TORONTO — Canadians surveyed in a new poll appear to be conflicted about whether to buy a home this year, with a majority believing now is the right time to buy but more than 70 per cent saying they are … Continue reading

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Royal Bank accused of tax scam by U.S. regulator

Royal Bank is calling “absurd” a lawsuit filed against it by U.S. regulators that alleges it engaged in hundreds of millions of dollars in sham futures trades to reap tax benefits on its holdings of company stocks. The Commodity Futures … Continue reading

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Home equity loans leave Canadians vulnerable, BoC says

OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada is again underscoring its concerns about rising household debt and home prices. And it’s not necessarily mortgage debt the central bank is most concerned about — it’s the money Canadians borrow by using their … Continue reading

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