Canada added 245,800 jobs in August, a weaker pace than in previous months and a sign that hiring plans are shifting into a new phase.
The unemployment rate declined to 10.2 per cent from July’s 10.9 per cent, Statistics Canada said on Friday. With August’s gains, the labour market has now recouped about 64 per cent of the three million positions that were lost between February and April, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced widespread shutdowns to slow virus transmission.
The labour market added 953,000 jobs in June and 419,000 in July.
…
The August report continued to highlight disparities. Employment for low-wage employees (those who earned less than $16.03 an hour, or two-thirds of the 2019 median wage) stands at 87.4 per cent of pre-COVID levels. For all other employees, the recovery is nearly complete, with employment at 99.1 per cent of where it stood before the pandemic.Statscan noted that nearly one-third of Southeast Asian and one-quarter of Black Canadians were in the low-wage bracket, compared with 15.9 per cent for the white population.
…
For a third consecutive month, employment rose by more for women (150,000) than men (96,000). That said, women suffered deeper job losses as the pandemic hit. As a result, employment for women aged 25 to 54 is down 4.4 per cent since February, compared to a 3.4-per-cent drop among men in the same age group.
So we have a new letter to worry about:
Worries of a K-shaped recovery are growing in the alphabet-obsessed economics profession. That would entail continued growth, but split sharply between industries and economic groups.
It’s a scenario where big-box retail and Wall Street banks benefit and mom-and-pop shops and restaurants and other service profession workers lag. Though not readily visible in GDP numbers for the next several quarters that will look gaudy in historical terms, the uneven benefits of the recovery pose longer-term risks for the national economic health.
Uh-huh. And guess which group makes the decisions about stimulus spending!
Meanwhile down south:
Employers continued to bring back furloughed workers last month, but at a far slower pace than in the spring, and millions of Americans remain out of work.
The U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs in August, the Labor Department said Friday, down from 1.7 million in July and down sharply from the 4.8 million added in June. Payrolls are still more than 11 million jobs below their pre-pandemic level.
The unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent, down significantly from 14.7 percent in April and 10.2 percent in July.
| HIMIPref™ Preferred Indices These values reflect the December 2008 revision of the HIMIPref™ Indices Values are provisional and are finalized monthly |
|||||||
| Index | Mean Current Yield (at bid) |
Median YTW |
Median Average Trading Value |
Median Mod Dur (YTW) |
Issues | Day’s Perf. | Index Value |
| Ratchet | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | -0.8468 % | 1,672.5 |
| FixedFloater | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | -0.8468 % | 3,068.9 |
| Floater | 4.99 % | 5.06 % | 61,414 | 15.30 | 3 | -0.8468 % | 1,768.6 |
| OpRet | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | -0.2147 % | 3,531.7 |
| SplitShare | 4.81 % | 4.60 % | 40,089 | 3.68 | 7 | -0.2147 % | 4,217.5 |
| Interest-Bearing | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | -0.2147 % | 3,290.7 |
| Perpetual-Premium | 5.35 % | 4.66 % | 76,191 | 0.64 | 17 | -0.0233 % | 3,120.8 |
| Perpetual-Discount | 5.28 % | 5.37 % | 81,657 | 14.82 | 17 | -0.2793 % | 3,462.4 |
| FixedReset Disc | 5.40 % | 4.19 % | 130,267 | 16.36 | 68 | -0.3239 % | 2,112.0 |
| Deemed-Retractible | 5.09 % | 4.99 % | 103,520 | 15.10 | 27 | -0.2867 % | 3,405.4 |
| FloatingReset | 2.84 % | 2.75 % | 43,244 | 1.38 | 3 | -0.0223 % | 1,806.6 |
| FixedReset Prem | 5.27 % | 4.44 % | 228,206 | 0.92 | 11 | -0.2477 % | 2,612.2 |
| FixedReset Bank Non | 1.95 % | 2.40 % | 131,268 | 1.38 | 2 | 0.0807 % | 2,841.7 |
| FixedReset Ins Non | 5.62 % | 4.43 % | 92,384 | 16.30 | 22 | -0.1937 % | 2,143.1 |
| Performance Highlights | |||
| Issue | Index | Change | Notes |
| TD.PF.I | FixedReset Disc | -3.49 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 21.67 Evaluated at bid price : 22.11 Bid-YTW : 4.00 % |
| MFC.PR.Q | FixedReset Ins Non | -3.17 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 18.01 Evaluated at bid price : 18.01 Bid-YTW : 4.46 % |
| TRP.PR.E | FixedReset Disc | -3.16 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 13.77 Evaluated at bid price : 13.77 Bid-YTW : 5.51 % |
| BIP.PR.F | FixedReset Disc | -2.82 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 21.38 Evaluated at bid price : 21.38 Bid-YTW : 5.98 % |
| BAM.PF.B | FixedReset Disc | -2.62 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 15.97 Evaluated at bid price : 15.97 Bid-YTW : 5.34 % |
| BAM.PF.E | FixedReset Disc | -2.27 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 15.05 Evaluated at bid price : 15.05 Bid-YTW : 5.28 % |
| BAM.PF.A | FixedReset Disc | -2.16 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 17.66 Evaluated at bid price : 17.66 Bid-YTW : 5.22 % |
| GWO.PR.N | FixedReset Ins Non | -1.96 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 10.01 Evaluated at bid price : 10.01 Bid-YTW : 4.27 % |
| SLF.PR.G | FixedReset Ins Non | -1.90 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 10.35 Evaluated at bid price : 10.35 Bid-YTW : 4.39 % |
| BMO.PR.Y | FixedReset Disc | -1.71 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 18.92 Evaluated at bid price : 18.92 Bid-YTW : 4.12 % |
| BAM.PF.G | FixedReset Disc | -1.56 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 15.75 Evaluated at bid price : 15.75 Bid-YTW : 5.24 % |
| MFC.PR.M | FixedReset Ins Non | -1.55 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 16.51 Evaluated at bid price : 16.51 Bid-YTW : 4.55 % |
| TD.PF.D | FixedReset Disc | -1.32 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 20.20 Evaluated at bid price : 20.20 Bid-YTW : 3.99 % |
| BAM.PR.X | FixedReset Disc | -1.30 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 11.35 Evaluated at bid price : 11.35 Bid-YTW : 5.06 % |
| BMO.PR.T | FixedReset Disc | -1.25 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 17.36 Evaluated at bid price : 17.36 Bid-YTW : 4.11 % |
| PWF.PR.P | FixedReset Disc | -1.25 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 10.27 Evaluated at bid price : 10.27 Bid-YTW : 4.94 % |
| BMO.PR.B | FixedReset Prem | -1.18 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 23.80 Evaluated at bid price : 25.15 Bid-YTW : 4.41 % |
| BAM.PR.B | Floater | -1.15 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 8.60 Evaluated at bid price : 8.60 Bid-YTW : 5.06 % |
| BNS.PR.I | FixedReset Disc | -1.07 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 20.43 Evaluated at bid price : 20.43 Bid-YTW : 3.94 % |
| GWO.PR.R | Deemed-Retractible | -1.06 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 22.84 Evaluated at bid price : 23.25 Bid-YTW : 5.15 % |
| RY.PR.Z | FixedReset Disc | -1.04 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 18.01 Evaluated at bid price : 18.01 Bid-YTW : 3.93 % |
| IFC.PR.A | FixedReset Ins Non | -1.02 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 12.57 Evaluated at bid price : 12.57 Bid-YTW : 4.67 % |
| GWO.PR.T | Deemed-Retractible | -1.01 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 24.03 Evaluated at bid price : 24.50 Bid-YTW : 5.24 % |
| TD.PF.J | FixedReset Disc | 1.11 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 20.90 Evaluated at bid price : 20.90 Bid-YTW : 4.01 % |
| NA.PR.G | FixedReset Disc | 1.21 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 20.15 Evaluated at bid price : 20.15 Bid-YTW : 4.34 % |
| IAF.PR.B | Deemed-Retractible | 1.33 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 22.66 Evaluated at bid price : 22.90 Bid-YTW : 5.02 % |
| BIP.PR.A | FixedReset Disc | 1.38 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 17.64 Evaluated at bid price : 17.64 Bid-YTW : 5.63 % |
| PWF.PR.T | FixedReset Disc | 1.53 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 16.55 Evaluated at bid price : 16.55 Bid-YTW : 4.64 % |
| TRP.PR.A | FixedReset Disc | 1.88 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 12.45 Evaluated at bid price : 12.45 Bid-YTW : 5.26 % |
| BAM.PR.Z | FixedReset Disc | 2.05 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 17.40 Evaluated at bid price : 17.40 Bid-YTW : 5.22 % |
| MFC.PR.G | FixedReset Ins Non | 2.61 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 19.25 Evaluated at bid price : 19.25 Bid-YTW : 4.35 % |
| MFC.PR.I | FixedReset Ins Non | 4.16 % | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 19.80 Evaluated at bid price : 19.80 Bid-YTW : 4.27 % |
| Volume Highlights | |||
| Issue | Index | Shares Traded |
Notes |
| GWO.PR.T | Deemed-Retractible | 64,721 | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 24.03 Evaluated at bid price : 24.50 Bid-YTW : 5.24 % |
| TD.PF.J | FixedReset Disc | 30,843 | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 20.90 Evaluated at bid price : 20.90 Bid-YTW : 4.01 % |
| RY.PR.C | Deemed-Retractible | 30,016 | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Call Maturity Date : 2020-10-04 Maturity Price : 25.00 Evaluated at bid price : 25.07 Bid-YTW : 2.88 % |
| BMO.PR.T | FixedReset Disc | 24,883 | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 17.36 Evaluated at bid price : 17.36 Bid-YTW : 4.11 % |
| BMO.PR.D | FixedReset Disc | 24,200 | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 22.74 Evaluated at bid price : 23.08 Bid-YTW : 3.95 % |
| CM.PR.R | FixedReset Disc | 17,800 | YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Limit Maturity Maturity Date : 2050-09-04 Maturity Price : 23.30 Evaluated at bid price : 23.65 Bid-YTW : 4.09 % |
| There were 7 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares. | |||
| Wide Spread Highlights | ||
| Issue | Index | Quote Data and Yield Notes |
| BAM.PF.F | FixedReset Disc | Quote: 16.85 – 18.00 Spot Rate : 1.1500 Average : 0.6932 YTW SCENARIO |
| TD.PF.I | FixedReset Disc | Quote: 22.11 – 23.11 Spot Rate : 1.0000 Average : 0.6349 YTW SCENARIO |
| BIP.PR.F | FixedReset Disc | Quote: 21.38 – 22.25 Spot Rate : 0.8700 Average : 0.6120 YTW SCENARIO |
| EIT.PR.B | SplitShare | Quote: 25.35 – 26.35 Spot Rate : 1.0000 Average : 0.7467 YTW SCENARIO |
| MFC.PR.H | FixedReset Ins Non | Quote: 20.55 – 21.27 Spot Rate : 0.7200 Average : 0.4847 YTW SCENARIO |
| MFC.PR.Q | FixedReset Ins Non | Quote: 18.01 – 18.75 Spot Rate : 0.7400 Average : 0.5378 YTW SCENARIO |