TORONTO – Five things to watch this week in Canadian business:
Bank of Canada outlook: The central bank delivers its latest business outlook survey on Monday. Since the bank released its last survey in April, much has changed that could weigh on the private sector: oil prices have staged a comeback, rising by nearly US$15 a barrel, while uncertainty looms about the future of the United Kingdom following its referendum vote to leave the European Union.
Jean Coutu: The Quebec-based drug store chain will report first-quarter results before markets open Tuesday, followed by its annual general meeting. The company operates more than 400 stores in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario.
Trade figures: Another important metric of the country’s economic performance comes out Wednesday when Statistics Canada releases trade figures for May. In April, Canada’s trade deficit narrowed to $2.9 billion, helped by higher energy prices, though that was still below expectations.
Postmedia: Canada’s largest newspaper chain presents its third-quarter results Thursday. The company, which has implemented newsroom layoffs amid a looming debt bomb, has urged Ottawa to spend more on newspaper ads and grant more tax breaks to companies that do the same.
Jobs report: On Friday, Statistics Canada releases its jobs report for June. At last check, the national unemployment rate had dropped to 6.9 per cent. But the figures, which captured some of the fallout from the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alta., showed that province’s labour market continued to struggle.
