Canadian real estate overpriced?
Despite warnings about overextended Canadian home prices from well known economist, Benjamin Tal, Royal LePage predicts increasing home prices for 2012 according to a Canadian Press report:
"Royal LePage,which franchises brokerages across the country, predicted the national average price for resale homes will increase this year by 2.8% by the end of the year. It said the national average price for a standard two-storey home was $375,427 in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 4.2% from 2010."
Stealth rally in Europe?
A slew of bad (hysterical?) press about the European debt crisis in the last few months of 2011 made European stocks one of the most reviled of all the asset classes. As a matter of fact, most investors wouldn't touch anything European with a bunch of 10 foot poles. For an adept money manager seeking bargain prices and few buyers, Europe ranks right up there.
Interesting observation - has anyone noticed that the major European indicies have rallied 13% to 20% in the last couple months or so?
Bank of Canada speech
Canadians were busy patting themselves on the back last year with great employment numbers, a healthy real estate market, a growing economy, low debt, etc, etc..
However Mark Carney – Governor of the Bank of Canada spoils the party with a more sobering view. Good speech with a lot of insight – especially the international scene.
His speech can be found at this link: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/speech-121211.pdf
