2009 should be a good year for Canadian farmers, says TD Economics

Despite the growing likelihood of a global economic recession next year, a combination of still relatively high crop prices, a weaker Canadian dollar and an easing in cost pressures are expected to lead to another good year for Canada's overall farm sector in 2009 according to TD Economics in a new report entitled "2009 Prospects for Canadian Agriculture." While some simmering down in cost pressures will be welcome news for livestock producers, next year will continue to prove challenging for that area in light of the recent imposition of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef and pork products by the U.S. government.

Recovery from rollercoaster ride

2008 has been a rollercoaster year for agriculture prices, with prices surging to the moon during the first half of the year only to retrace those gains in subsequent months.

BMO Financial Group's market and investment strategists in Canada and the U.S. offer their views on what lies ahead following last night's historic U.S. Presidential election:

Donald Coxe, Global Portfolio Strategist, BMO Financial Group

- Obama's victory will lead to a "feel-good" attitude within America at a time when gloom and sourness have become excessive. That favours financial assets generally at a time that fall is moving into winter.

- Obama's spending plans will be seen as economy-favourable with the nation in recession. Stocks should benefit near-term.

Gerard Burke, Director, Business Growth and Development Programme at Cranfield School of Management and speaker at www.entrepreneursinlondon.com spoke to www.freshbusinessthinking.com founder Nick James about the parallels between Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and the challenges facing entrepreneurs.

“To borrow a phrase suffused with poetry from US president-elect Barack Obama, if there’s any owner manager out there who still doubts that all things are possible, who still wonders if their dream for their business can be brought to reality, who still questions the power of inspirational leadership, today is your answer.

In a time of great challenge for America, and of great doubt in Americans’ sense of themselves and their place in the world, Barack Obama has offered his countrymen a clear and transformational vision of a different and better future.  He articulates that vision in ways that have inspired millions of his fellow Americans, and millions more around the world, to believe that, by taking responsibility and working together, they can help make that different and better future a reality.

New York-based asset manager Van Eck Global today announced that eleven Market Vectors exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will transfer from the NYSE Alternext US LLC (formerly the American Stock Exchange) to the NYSE Arca listing and trading platform by year-end. This move comes as a result of the completed acquisition of the former American Stock Exchange by NYSE Euronext, the holding company for NYSE Arca. Current shareholders of the Market Vectors ETFs are not required to take any action as a result of this change.

The complete list of funds making the transfer is as follows: