Marc Levesque Quotes

"I don't know anybody out there who is not expecting the Bank of Canada to hike 25 basis points next week."

"They said nothing's changed in their view of the economy so markets focused on the word 'modest' to mean they'll be less aggressive."

"In our view, there is still is every reason for the Bank of Canada to continue to nudge its rate higher, and we are not changing our call for a four per cent (overnight) rate by April."

"The data aren't providing any reason for the Bank of Canada to pause. The risks are on the upside for rate increases. Investors are going to sell bonds."

"This report paints a picture very similar to the fall survey and shows an economy practically at full capacity."

"Real exports are poised to take a bite out of Canada's growth performance for the first quarter as a whole."

"So exports actually contributed to net GDP growth in November."

"This morning's merchandise trade report certainly came as a shocker, but this is one case where the headline looks much worse than the details of the data."

"If we end up with a majority government you could see a bit of a rally in the currency but it would be short-lived. Canada's economy is comfortably in surplus and that backdrop isn't going to change, no matter who wins."

"This is really a tale of two job markets."

"There's little market reaction I think for two things. First, the strength was anticipated to some extent. Second, the market is very tightly focused on what the Bank of Canada is doing this afternoon."

"The Bank of Canada cannot afford to be complacent if it wants to keep inflation in check over its 18-24 month time horizon ... Look for the overnight rate to peak at 4 percent."

"The strength of today's report certainly will not be lost on the Bank of Canada ... as a result, we still believe the odds favor another rate hike from the bank in April."

"I don't think they want to commit to any future rate hikes in case things start to sour. They're just leaving all the doors open."

"Most importantly, the Bank of Canada is not giving the impression that it has much of an appetite for further rate hikes beyond the 4 percent level."