Through the COVID-19 pandemic, our homes have been converted into offices, classrooms, and in some cases, recording studios. The housing market has roared back in May and June, but the jury is still out on the long-term effects of the crisis on the Canadian housing stock. In this episode of Market Points, Marc Desormeaux, Senior Economist at Scotiabank, provides the latest numbers and shares his insights on the foundational strength of Canadian housing.

The International Monetary Fund downgraded its forecast for 2020 to a 4.9% retraction in global growth. Coronavirus cases are re-escalating in new areas. Employment numbers continue to slide. Yet, retail sales are improving, and we’ve experienced significant gains in equity markets since the late March lows. So, are things getting better, or worse? Or is it too early to tell? In this episode of Market Points, Jean-François Perrault, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Scotiabank, provides his perspective on our economic prospects and some of the fundamental shifts we should prepare for.

In Canada, the Federal government continues to put the full weight of its financial powers into the fight against the economic turmoil caused by COVID-19. But have these programs performed as advertised, in providing Canadians and Canadian businesses the support they desperately need? Effectiveness aside, the question remains, can we afford this? In this episode of Market Points, Rebekah Young, Director, Fiscal and Provincial Economics at Scotiabank, provides her perspective on Canada’s financial position and sheds light on the question of affordability.

In June of 2020, Brexit has lost most, if not all, of its headline attention in North America. But if the UK and the EU cannot agree to new trade terms by the end of this year, Britain will be faced with serious economic consequences. In this episode of Market Points, Juan Manuel Herrera, Currency Strategist at Scotiabank, breaks down the current state of trade negotiations and explains how Brexit may diminish London’s position and power as a global financial centre.

Latin America is a massive, culturally diverse region under significant stress as Brazil becomes the new epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, frustrating near-term re-opening plans. To compound regional challenges, the retail sector across Latam lacks the e-commerce maturity of other markets, historically tied to consumers' reliance on cash. But rapid change is on its way. In this episode of Market Points, Rodrigo Echagaray, Managing Director and Head of Latin American Equity Research at Scotiabank, discusses the regional reshaping of retail.

When Amazon entered the marketplace, it triggered a retail revolution. The convenience factor has quickly become a necessity for many consumers – and the lasting impact on consumer behaviour will most certainly be significant. But right now, retail is reeling with an unprecedented retraction in sales, big name bankruptcies, and mounting unemployment. In this episode of Market Points, Patricia Baker, Director, Retailing, Global Equity Research at Scotiabank, brings us up to speed with the current conditions and shares her thoughts on how shopping has changed forever.

Equity markets stormed back despite very frightening economic numbers. How has the Canadian dollar behaved alongside this market optimism? And with continued fiscal and monetary stimulus, fears of inflation have re-emerged. Meanwhile, incoming Bank of Canada governor, Tiff Macklem, has not ruled out negative interest rates. In this episode of Market Points, Shaun Osborne, Managing Director and Chief Currency Strategist at Scotiabank, shares his expectations for the Canadian dollar and explains why inflationary fears may be overblown.

The global economy has slowly started to reopen. As the world attempts an apprehensive return to normal, if there is such a thing, how well positioned are Latin American countries for recovery? And what does a strong Latin America mean for Canada? In this episode of Market Points, Brett House, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist at Scotiabank, discusses Latam in a global context and explains why international relations are more important than ever.

China appears to be at the beginning of a recovery while the world’s largest economy, the United States, is still reeling from the effects of COVID-19. Emerging market economies around the globe rely heavily on the health of these two giants for trade and investment. But which countries are exposed to greater risk due to additional domestic weakness? Which nations could recover ahead of us all? In this episode of Market Points, Bertha Arroyo, Associate Director, FX Trader at Scotiabank, shares an update on the opportunities and threats facing the emerging market economies in Asia and Latin America.