Good Financial Reads - May 2019

An Insightful Profile of Canada 

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
The most important charts to watch in 2019
Our fifth annual bonanza of more than 70 charts to help you make sense of the economy in the year ahead

This article in MacLeans Magazine provides a wonderful insight into the fabric of Canada.

That’s evident from this year’s collection of charts to watch in 2019, as chosen by some of the top economists, analysts and business experts in the country. The worries are many, and include rising interest rates, dramatically slowing household credit, Alberta’s oil crisis, U.S.-China tensions and the state of business competitiveness in Canada. You’ll also find charts on the fight against poverty, the rise of the digital economy, B.C.’s plague of forest fires and the evolving role of dads.

We asked each contributor to submit a chart along with their explanation for why it will be important to watch in the year ahead, and present them here in no particular order. We hope you find their insights as engaging and fascinating as we did. Share your thoughts with the hashtag #ChartWeek, and enjoy.

The Hits Keep on Coming From the Great Negotiator

Farmer Sentiment Darkens as China Hopes Fade

The “ongoing uncertainty” of U.S.-China trade relations “is unacceptable to U.S. farmers,” said president Davie Stephens of the American Soybean Association on Tuesday. “With depressed prices and unsold stocks forecast to double before the 2019 harvest begins in September, we need the China market reopened to U.S. soybean exports within weeks – not months or longer.” The soybean group urged the White House to reach an agreement that will remove China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybeans. In the past, China bought 1 of 3 bushels of U.S. soybeans grown.


BBQ Season - Romaine Lettuce - a wonderful addition to the grill

A few weeks ago, we were served grilled Romain lettuce.  It was spectacular.  Best of all it was very simple and quick.

Do this and you will be delighted with the results:

• quarter a head of Romaine lettuce by cutting it lengthwise
• drizzle the quarters with olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar (you may also wish to dress it up a bit with salt and spices)
• place it on a hot BBQ and char all sides until most of the leaves are blackened (no need to leave it on longer as you will want to maintain a bit of crunch on the inside)
• time on the BBQ is only a few minutes

It's that easy.