United States: BMO Harris Private Baking Study

Canada Dept: According to a recent BMO Harris Private Baking study, while Canadians have tremendous pride in and optimism for strong economic performance and the country's financial outlook, they are concerned about how the rest of the world's financial challenges could affect their portfolios during the second half of the year, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The annual value of Canada's bilateral goods and services trade with the United States is about $600 billion. The U.S. is the largest foreign investor in Canada and the most popular destination for Canadian investment abroad. In 2009, American direct investment in Canada was close to $288.3 billion while Canadian direct-investment holdings in the U.S. reached $261.3 billion and special - While economic and financial problems persist in the United States and Europe, Canadians are positive and upbeat about the domestic economy and financial markets should perform moderately well this year. "Though the most recent recession is a few years behind us, the tentative economic recovery in the United States still troubles Canadian investors," says Paul Taylor, chief investment officer, fundamental equities, with BMO Asset Management. "Those concerns are warranted because Canada is the United States' largest trading partner and it's only natural that we will be affected by what happens south of the border. We are not the masters of our own destiny." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.