26. November 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

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1. November 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

Federal investigators reported Thursday that imported Chinese drywall that homeowners have linked to health problems and odors had higher levels of some chemicals than its domestic counterparts.

The investigators, however, were unable to link the chemicals, sulfur and strontium, to the health problems and smells in thousands of homes built during the recent housing boom, and said further testing was under way to determine any possible connection.

At this point in time it is difficult to determine whether this drywall issue is another form of US protectionism or if there is really a problem with imported Chinese drywall.

The government’s investigation into Chinese drywall is the largest in the history of the product safety commission, costing $3.5 million. It also puts a renewed spotlight on problems related to all types of products imported from China. Millions of tainted toys made in China had to be recalled in 2007 and 2008; problems were also reported with imported pet food. More here.

Reminds me of the asbestos issue of yesteryear. In any event this ought to be fodder for the lawyers as the lawsuits start to emerge.

If you are thinking of buying a house or condo check it out check it out closely. Vancouverites who have had to deal with the “leaky condo issue” have learned this lesson the hard way!

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21. August 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

Canada’s rules on how it goes after tax cheats need to be seriously revamped if the Canada Revenue Agency is to have any hope of successfully prosecuting people who hide money in tax-haven banks, said Jean-Pierre Blackburn, the National Revenue Minister.

As it stands, the CRA does not have the ability to compel banks to report when account holders send money out of the country “but we should have that information that Mr. X or Madam Z did that,” Mr. Blackburn said in a telephone interview. “We need that information but we don’t have it. We need changes in the law.”

Led by the United States offshore investors who parked money in off shore tax havens are being hunted down and prosecuted. Fines, backtaxes, penalties and in some cases jail time. BUT NOT IN CANADA.

Swiss-based UBS Bank has been forced to supply the IRS in the United States with thousands of names of accounts and US persons who held accounts offshore. An amnesty program allows US persons to come forward, pay a reduced penalty but escape jail time.

Sleeping at the switch, the Canadian government is late to this party. Canadian offshore investors have been able to stay under the radar. HOWEVER don’t expect it to last much longer, Canada will fall in line with the US and make a big deal out of offshore tax cheats. It you stashed the cash offshore its time to find a tax person to dig you out of this looming probem.

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28. July 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

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18. June 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

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10. June 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

As reported by Mark Peery at Carpe Diem —-RICHMOND FEDERAL RESERVE — In May, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index—our broadest measure of manufacturing activity—jumped to 4 from April’s reading of -9 (see chart above). Among the index’s components, shipments gained twelve points to 9, new orders rose twelve points to finish at 10, and the jobs index advanced fourteen points to end at -12.

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5. June 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

It seems somehow fitting that before Samantha Walkow runs the final race of her high school track career on Saturday, she’ll lace up a bright red pair of spikes that seem to do a pretty fair impersonation of the red slippers Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz.

The race is one of the closing events at the 2009 Subway B.C. High School Track and Field championships which opens its annual two-day run Friday at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium. Read More at the Vancouver Province.

Go gettem Sam, It’s yours to win!

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12. May 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

There has been much chatter in recent weeks about the recovery in the real estate markets. Maybe in the lower end stuff but the high end real estate sector is seeing some real pain. The numbers are staggering as can be seen from this recent piece on the Wall Street Jounel blog entitled “Affluent Homeowners Sinking Fast“. Maybe the optimists are a bit premature calling for a turn in the real estate markets so soon.

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9. May 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

Click to picture to enlarge.

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7. May 2009 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

Jeremy Grantham Q1 2009 Quarterly Letter

Publish at Scribd or explore others: quarterly reports cvtx 8k

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