Deirdre McMurdy

The problem with Canada’s cellphone market

2013-05-18T14:15:00

The spectrum auction is not some abstract scientific concept — it could end up costing you.

Can Tim Hortons retain its ‘iconic’ status?

2013-05-11T14:15:00

Tim Hortons’ new CEO faces challenge of growth and expectations.

The moral baggage of $10 T-shirts

2013-05-03T14:15:00

The tragedy in Bangladesh is as much about us as those who make our clothes.

Barrick Gold and Apple: the perils of growth

2013-04-20T14:15:00

The transition from growth stock to value stock is not an easy one for any corporation.

What’s holding Canada back

2013-04-20T14:15:00

Canada’s weak economic outlook is a function of our culture.

RBC’s many mistakes in the foreign workers scandal

2013-04-12T14:15:00

Gord Nixon should take a page from IKEA on the importance of corporate social responsibility.

The argument against a Toronto casino

2013-04-06T14:15:00

The economics of a Toronto casino don’t make a compelling case.

Why China sent us panda bears

2013-03-29T14:15:00

Canada/China relations were on display with the arrival of the furry ambassadors. Canada has to up its geopolitical game. Fast.

Challenges of the upcoming federal budget

2013-03-16T14:15:00

The push to balance the budget faces some new — and daunting — obstacles.

Canada’s youth employment problem

2013-03-14T14:15:00

A million new jobs have been created, but few for youth.

How Chávez's death will affect the Keystone campaign

2013-03-12T14:15:00

The turmoil brought about by Hugo Chávez’s death will serve Canadian oil interests.

The real debate behind the XL pipeline

2013-03-06T15:15:00

The XL pipeline has nothing to do with the environment — it’s all politics.

Plan to retire at 66? Think again

2013-02-22T15:30:00

Like many other expectations, the idea of an automatic withdrawal from work is receding fast.

Are markets (finally) on the rebound?

2013-02-16T15:30:00

Stock markets are rallying, but it’s what’s changed over the slump that will matter most.

The danger of the new business culture

2013-02-09T15:30:00

Directors grapple with new issues in a post-crisis business world.

Is the new BlackBerry a good bet?

2013-02-04T15:30:00

The battered company’s re-launch has a good chance of working — if it can sustain interest.

Is Apple really in trouble?

2013-01-26T18:15:00

It may be easy — and fun — to call time on Apple. But it’s premature too.

Behind the Nortel ruling

2013-01-19T18:15:00

Top executives are guilty only of doing what all others do — managing earnings.

Canada’s changing real estate market

2013-01-12T18:15:00

Softer real estate prices will have a big impact on more than just markets and margins.

Why America’s fiscal pain is our pain too

2013-01-05T18:15:00

Canada’s leverage to the American economy – and politics – casts a shadow over the next year.

The most important business stories of 2012

2012-12-31T18:15:00

There’s more to the top business headlines of the year than is immediately evident.

The economics behind the U.S. gun control debate

2012-12-22T18:15:00

Guns are big business in the U.S. The NRA and other gun lobbyists will use this fact to influence the discussion.

The new rules of foreign investment

2012-12-15T18:15:00

A cocktail party guide to understanding what happened with the Nexen and Progress deals.

Face off at centre ice

2012-12-10T18:12:48

The fiscal cliff and the NHL lockout are actually the same story

The Bank of Canada after Carney

2012-11-29T21:30:00

Mark Carney’s departure will not leave the Bank of Canada in the lurch.

Is Black Friday Canada’s new Boxing Day?

2012-11-24T21:30:00

The encroachment of Black Friday into Canada is threatening traditional Boxing Day madness sales.

Flaherty’s economic update is an early warning

2012-11-13T21:30:00

The uncertainties and risks facing the domestic economy are now official.

Will another four years of Obama be good for Canada?

2012-11-07T10:15:00

A Democratic president has not always meant good things for our economy.

How Sandy will affect the Canadian economy

2012-11-03T07:15:00

Hurricane Sandy and the U.S. election will have implications for the U.S. relationship with Canada.

When will Carney raise interest rates?

2012-10-27T04:15:00

Canada’s economy has become like a dog chasing its tail, with the Bank of Canada struggling to balance competing economic needs.

The hypocrisy of foreign ownership rules

2012-10-20T01:15:00

The innate hypocrisy of the deals surrounding XL Foods and Hudson’s Bay Company reflects a great deal about Canada and Canadians.

The problem with the IMF’s assessment of Canada

2012-10-13T22:15:00

Warning from the IMF carries little clout — the real story is in the fragmented details.

Does Facebook deserve more investor love?

2012-10-06T19:15:00

It may have a billion users, but stock markets just don’t care.

The recovery of RIM

2012-09-28T16:12:47

Are there enough variables in the mix to give RIM new hope?

Counting the ways Canada is changing

2012-09-21T20:41:47

Shifts in Canadian family structure have direct consequences for policymakers and business leaders

Should Canada allow foreign ownership of natural resources?

2012-09-14T18:15:00

Before we share control of our resources, we need to know our partners -and their process -better

The real issue for Quebec investors

2012-09-08T11:42:08

Why the election of a PQ government is not likely to cause much movement in the markets.

How Scotiabank will change ING Canada

2012-08-30T11:42:08

ING Canada’s indie cred will take a hit once Scotiabank fully incorporates its new acquisition.

Is ‘dead money’ always a bad thing?

2012-08-25T15:03:56

Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada, has launched an important new conversation about the role of corporations in a tumultuous economy.

Why Canadians shouldn’t be worried about rising food prices

2012-08-18T15:03:56

The recent drought is about much more than an exceptional dry spell for farmers.

Can trust in banks be restored?

2012-08-14T15:03:56

The problems at Standard Chartered, the latest banking scandal, suggest it’s time for a new approach.

Lowe’s DIY project gone wrong

2012-08-04T15:03:56

Lowe’s bid for Rona reveals some troubling structural issues.

Is Chinese investment a ‘net benefit’ to Canada?

2012-07-27T15:03:56

We need to be clearer about the terms of resource sales.

Marissa Mayer’s real challenge

2012-07-21T15:03:56

Yahoo’s new CEO has more to worry about than the glass ceiling.

Enbridge and corporate pinata syndrome

2012-07-13T15:03:56

It may be fun to whack the pipeline company, but its problems are ours.

The real danger of the Barclays scandal

2012-07-07T15:03:56

The latest upheaval moves world banks closer to losing control over themselves.

Rogers fighting to survive with new round of layoffs

2012-06-27T15:03:56

The recent job losses are part of the company’s search for eternal corporate youth.

What the new mortgage rules will mean for Canada

2012-06-23T15:03:56

Tough times call for tougher measures — especially for mortgage loans.

How Jamie Dimon handled his appearance before U.S. Senate

2012-06-09T15:03:56

JP Morgan's CEO Jamie Dimon transformed his Day of Contrition into a soapbox.

What went wrong at Barrick Gold

2012-06-09T15:03:56

Taking the rap is part of a CEO’s job, but the board has to take responsibility too.

The (not-so-sad) death knell for RIM

2012-06-05T15:03:56

It’s about time we accept that companies live harder and die younger than they used to.

What really happened with the Facebook IPO

2012-05-26T15:03:56

The fall of the Facebook IPO is a cautionary tale for investors large and small.

Should you invest in Facebook?

2012-05-17T15:03:56

It’s a big, fact public stock issue that raises big, fat questions about the future.

When global markets meet local politics

2012-05-12T15:03:56

Recent political turmoil rocking markets in Europe foreshadows problems ahead.

Seeing red over Black

2012-05-03T15:03:56

Conrad Black's recent memoir is a cautionary tale if he does return to Canada and business.

Is Ottawa about to burst the housing bubble?

2012-05-01T16:31:39

The new oversight of CMHC may address one problem but causes another.

Why skilled immigrants aren’t coming to Canada

2012-04-21T16:31:39

Canada’s new “startup visa” will requires other reforms to make a real difference.

Will the roof cave in on Toronto's condo market?

2012-04-17T16:31:39

It may feel wrong, but the fundamentals for a sustained boom seem to be holding up.

Who’s to blame for high gas prices?

2012-04-06T16:31:39

As prices at the pump soar, we should stop the whining and get marching. 

Is now a better time to rent than own?

2012-03-30T16:31:39

As prices continue to rise, the case for renting is making more sense.

Get ready for deep cuts in the Federal Budget

2012-03-28T16:31:39

With a majority in hand, the Tory’s are set to ‘transform’ the federal government.

How to find work in a tough job market

2012-03-25T14:40:58

This year, your grandfather — not your classmate — is the competition.

Kony 2012 and the murky world of charities

2012-03-16T14:40:58

The controversial Kony 2012 campaign raises awareness and money.

SNC-Lavalin: Local company in global controversy

2012-03-03T14:40:58

SNC-Lavalin: Local company in global controversy.

Why gas prices will continue to rise

2012-02-28T14:40:58

Canada may be a net producer of oil but current prices will still pinch.

Who's to blame for Apple's factory woes?

2012-02-18T14:40:58

Allegations of worker rights violations at Apple plants get the big PR spin.

Why Caterpillar-like closures will continue

2012-02-11T14:40:58

The closure of the Caterpillar plant should serve as a wake-up call for Canada.

Danger signs in the housing market

2012-02-04T14:40:58

As a housing market correction looms large, Canadians ignore the signs — again

2011: a year of falling apart at the seams

2012-01-06T14:40:58

This past year was all about pulling back and breaking apart.

Can RIM's reputation be saved?

2012-01-23T14:40:58

The market is unconvinced that a new(ish) regime, can reverse the outcome for RIM.

Why Kodak failed

2012-01-21T15:48:54

Kodak’s bankruptcy proves that the technology that makes you, also breaks you.

The return of shareholder activism?

2012-01-14T15:48:54

After a lull, the battle over CP heralds a new era – for better and maybe for worse.

Five to watch in 2012

2012-01-03T15:48:54

The actions – and reactions –of these five will shape headlines in 2012

Looking ahead to a year of caution and mild dread

2011-12-24T15:37:48

Better to toast the arrival of 2012 with chamomile tea rather than champers.

Hard lessons from 2011

2011-12-28T15:37:48

It certainly wasn’t an easy year, but we’d be smart to learn from all those bumps and bruises.

How politics are taking over the environment

2011-12-17T15:37:48

Forget the environment, the Durban climate change talks were all about a new political order.

The danger of further rate cuts

2011-12-09T15:37:48

Cheap money creates at least as many problems as it solves.

Will investors 'friend' Facebook?

2011-12-02T15:37:48

Will the appeal of net-based IPOs hold long enough for Facebook to fly?

The new investing reality

2011-11-26T15:37:48

As governments enter the fray, investors have a new variable to face.

Will Canada's real estate bubble eventually burst?

2011-11-21T15:37:48

With sales data up again this month, Canada’s real estate market is a rare economic highlight. But how long can this be maintained?

How Jim Flaherty manages our expectations

2011-11-09T15:37:48

On the economic front, managed news is good news.

Can Canada avoid the next recession?

2011-11-07T01:22:46

Less talk and more action is required as economic woes spread.

Global burnout hits EU

2011-10-29T01:22:46

As the EU’s struggles show, ignoring the human factor complicates everything.

Can RIM recover from recent woes?

2011-10-22T01:22:46

RIM’s biggest challenge is to rediscover its ‘wow.’

What the Wall Street protests mean for Canada

2011-10-14T01:22:46

Political and economic discontent in the U.S. could have an impact on Canada and its fortunes.

The real danger of the global crisis for Canada

2011-10-08T01:22:46

The ultimate protectionist weapon in Canada is the maple leaf. And it’s going to be huge.

The local price of an international debt crisis

2011-10-04T01:22:46

Politicians are struggling to manage expectations and shift blame.

How Canada will weather the economic storm

2011-09-22T01:22:46

Canada may face some external jolts, but it’s well equipped to ride out the current volatility.

Why Canada's income gap will continue to grow

2011-09-16T01:22:46

The destabilizing divide between rich and poor in Canada is a self-perpetuating phenomenon.

Cautionary lessons from Yahoo

2011-09-13T01:22:46

Yahoo’s just-fired CEO is the latest victim of instant gratification syndrome.

Disturbing outlook for Canada?

2011-09-06T01:22:46

Five things that will shape the Canadian conversation this fall.

Are some leaders irreplaceable?

2011-08-27T01:22:46

Succession plans just can’t replace the 'it' factor of iconic leaders like Jack Layton and Steve Jobs.

The next big tech battle

2011-08-20T01:22:46

The massive premiums paid for patent portfolios are creating a new boom.

What Obama can learn from Canada

2011-08-13T01:22:46

Managing voter expectations is the key to restoring stability in the U.S.

Fallout from the U.S. debt drama

2011-08-06T01:22:46

It’s the small stuff that’s scariest for both the U.S. and Canadian economies.

Why Ottawa should save RIM

2011-07-28T01:22:46

If car companies qualify for help, why not a home-grown tech venture?

The Harry Potter guide to Muggle business

2011-07-24T01:22:46

Nine business lessons from the summer blockbuster.

How the Harper government will spin the Murdoch scandal

2011-07-16T01:22:46

The U.K. hacking scandal is feeding a controversial and self-serving political agenda.

Why a cottage isn't a good investment

2011-07-07T01:22:46

There are at least a dozen real reasons why a second home isn’t actually that attractive an investment.