Leslie Kennedy

1 week ago | money.ca | Leslie Kennedy |Romana King

System criticized as slow and stacked against renters Nichola Taylor, chair of the New Brunswick branch of housing rights group ACORN, criticized New Brunswick's system in the past, stating, "You would think if they have all that money stored that money should be going back towards housing to help tenants and to decrease the crisis of affordable housing that we're currently in," she said to CityNews. Under provincial law, landlords can require a security deposit of up to one month's rent.

1 week ago | money.ca | Leslie Kennedy |Romana King

How gift card scams work Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated. As cybersecurity expert Tom Keenan from the University of Calgary explained to CTV News: “Bad guys are scooping up a bunch of gift cards, taking them somewhere and putting labels over the barcode. When someone activates the card, they’re ready to go and drain it.” These altered cards can be difficult for customers to detect in-store. And once the funds are stolen, recovering them is often impossible.

2 weeks ago | money.ca | Leslie Kennedy |Romana King

S&P 500 enters bear market amid escalating tariff tensions As of April 7, 2025, the S&P 500 has officially entered bear market territory, defined by a 20% decline from its recent peak. The index fell to 4,870, down 21% from its high of 6,144 on February 19, 2025. This marks the second-fastest transition to a bear market in history, surpassed only by the rapid decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

2 weeks ago | money.ca | Leslie Kennedy

Fixed rates decline amid lender competition Recent data shows a notable decrease in fixed mortgage rates. In the past week alone, many banks and monoline lenders have reduced their three- and five-year fixed rates by 10 to 20 basis points. This trend is attributed to falling bond yields and intensified competition among lenders during the bustling spring market. With high-ratio fixed rates dipping below 4% for the first time in months, a pricing war is on the horizon.

2 weeks ago | money.ca | Leslie Kennedy

US companies face uncertainty in Canada American businesses that once relied on Canadian buyers are now facing challenges. California-based Parasol Co., which manufactures baby products, saw a major Canadian distribution deal fall through due to concerns over trade stability. Similarly, Pennsylvania-based perfume company Demeter Fragrances abandoned plans to expand into Canada, citing a decline in demand for US goods.