|

BoC: Near-term business prospects continue to be robust

Below are key takeaways from the Bank of Canada's recently published Business Outlook Survey—Autumn 2018.

  • The balance of opinion on past sales growth moved down but remains positive, indicating rising sales growth over the past 12 months.
  • The indicator of future sales growth increased and is positive, suggesting a faster pace of growth over the next 12 months.
  • Firms’ positive sales outlook is underpinned by a solid, broad-based improvement in recent sales indicators.
  • Still, many businesses expect their future sales to be limited by capacity constraints (frequently labour-related), competition and regulation.
  • After edging down in recent surveys, the balance of opinion on investment intentions rebounded to a high level in the autumn survey.
  • Following a steady increase over several surveys, the balance of opinion on employment intentions receded but remains positive across all regions and sectors

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Editor's Picks

USD/JPY consolidates near 160.50 intervention zone ahead of FOMC decision

USD/JPY remains close to the 160.50 intervention zone during the Asian session on Wednesday. Despite the BoJ's rate hike to its highest level since 1995, Japan's borrowing costs remain significantly lower than those of peer nations such as the US. Moreover, the BoJ's more cautious stance on bonds undermines the Japanese Yen and supports the currency pair. Meanwhile, the US Dollar remains on the back foot amid the optimism over the US-Iran peace deal and ahead of the Fed policy decision, capping spot prices.

AUD/USD holds steady above 0.7050; looks to Fed decision for fresh impetus

AUD/USD is seen consolidating above mid-0.7000s during the Asian session as traders await the outcome of a two-day FOMC meeting later this Wednesday. In the meantime, the optimism over an interim peace deal between the US and Iran keeps the US Dollar bulls on the defensive. This, along with the RBA's hawkish pause on Tuesday, acts as a tailwind for the currency pair.

Gold: $4,000 or $4,500? The Fed may decide Gold’s next big move

Gold now surrenders part of its initial advance and recedes to the vicinity of the $4,350 mark per troy ounce on Tuesday. The early enthusiasm sparked by the US-Iran peace deal has faded somewhat, prompting investors to adopt a more prudent stance as they await further details of the agreement and key guidance from the Fed.

XRP pulls back as subdued ETF inflows, layered resistance cap upside
Ripple (XRP) remains elevated above $1.23 at the time of writing on Tuesday, struggling amid a capped upside. Despite an improved overall market sentiment driven by news of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war in the Middle East, capital inflows remain notably subdued.
1% rate, 160 Yen: Why Japan’s historic hike changed little
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) pushed its short-term policy rate to 1% on Tuesday, the highest setting since 1995 and a 31-year milestone in a normalization cycle barely two years old. It is the kind of number that should mark a turning point for the Yen, and it did almost nothing.
Why a hawkish RBA is no longer enough to lift the Australian Dollar

The Reserve Bank of Australia delivered more than what markets expected: a hawkish hold that should have supported the Aussie. But markets widely ignored it, focusing instead on slowing economic growth and proving that central bank messaging alone isn’t always enough to drive currencies.