(Barry Wilmore photo courtesy NASA)

Global markets: Japan, Germany cut economic forecasts

CNS Canada –– The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally. JAPAN CUTS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, ECONOMIC OUTLOOK – The Japanese government downgraded its assessment of industrial production and identified some areas of weakness in a monthly government report released on Wednesday. The reduced forecast for industrial production is due to weaker demand


Editorial: The green world’s breadbasket?

Editorial: The green world’s breadbasket?

Jeff Rubin, the former chief economist for CIBC World Markets turned bestselling author, knows all about adaptation. His first book, Why Your World Is About To Get A Whole Lot Smaller grabbed international attention with predictions that world oil prices would climb to more than $200 a barrel by 2012, forcing a rethink of almost

Bill Whitelaw, CEO of JuneWarren Nickel’s Energy Group

Manitoba oil industry slows but won’t cease

Despite dwindling production in other parts of the country, Manitoba will still see 350 wells drilled in 2015

The current oil price slump will not have a major effect on activity in Manitoba’s oil industry, and it’s good news if you’re a buyer rather than a seller, said speakers at a recent oil industry conference here. “Low oil prices do have a positive effect for other parts of the economy. A lot of





Dry Australia cuts wheat forecast

sydney / reuters / Australia has cut its forecast for wheat production in the 2012-13 crop-marketing year by about seven per cent from its previous forecast to 22.5 million tonnes. And it’s warning yields may fall further if rains don’t arrive soon in some areas. Australia had a record 29.5-million-tonne wheat harvest last year, but


Farmers have a positive outlook, for good reason

A recent survey by Farm Credit Canada found 80 per cent of farmers feel positive about the future and Agriculture Canada’s latest income forecasts will add to the rosy outlook. Net farm cash income for 2011 was $11.7 billion, Agriculture Canada said in a report. Factoring in depreciation cuts that number in half, but it

Bright outlook for cow-calf sector

If you thought calf prices were good this winter, just wait until next fall. During the tail end of the 2011 calf run, 550-weight feeder prices averaged around $1.60 per pound. Barring macroeconomic disasters affecting consumer purchasing power in major markets, calves could punch higher next fall to $1.75 per pound, Brian Perillat, manager and