Canadian bank earnings season is off to a strong start with all three of today’s reporting banks exceeding analyst expectations and announcing dividend increases. Results appeared broadly constructive across Wealth Management, Canadian Banking, U.S. Banking, and Capital Markets operations, reinforcing the strength of the sector heading into the remainder of earnings week. U.S. equity futures are mixed ahead of the open, while commodity prices are under pressure alongside a stronger U.S. dollar and declining treasury yields.
Canadian bank earnings released this morning generally exceeded expectations. Bank of Montreal ($3.67 v. Street $3.45, 2.4% dividend increase), Bank of Nova Scotia ($2.02 v. Street $1.94, 3.6% dividend increase), and National Bank of Canada ($3.23 v. Street $3.13, 6.4% dividend increase) all reported stronger-than-expected results. No major economic reports are scheduled for release today.
NASDAQ futures are up 0.7% while Dow futures are down 0.1% in premarket trading.
In Asia, the Nikkei finished up 0.1% while the Hang Seng declined 1.1%. In Europe, the DAX is up 0.2% and the FTSE is higher by 0.1% at midday.
Commodity prices are weaker this morning. Crude Oil is down 3.7%, though it continues to hold above $90.00 per barrel. Gasoline is down 3.4%, Gold is lower by 1.6%, Copper is down 0.5%, and Silver is declining 2.8%.
Bond yields are moving lower with the U.S. 10-year treasury note yield declining toward 4.45% while the U.S. 30-year treasury note yield is moving toward 5.00%. Despite lower yields, the U.S. dollar is strengthening today, particularly against commodity-linked currencies. The Euro is up 0.2% while the Canadian Dollar is down 0.1%.
Canadian bank earnings season continues tomorrow with results expected from CIBC, TD Bank, and Royal Bank.
*Shares of CIBC and National Bank of Canada are held in some portfolios managed by SIA Wealth Management.