I would like to suggest that policymakers should focus unrelentingly on financial services and their underlying activities, as opposed to the ever-evolving technologies per se. Such a focus will most likely ensure appropriate regulatory treatment of similar activities, irrespective of the entity providing such activities, and will thus aim to better achieve level playing fields.
•  Commodity prices have remained at historically elevated levels, though temporary disruptions and persistent transportation bottlenecks have led to a record discount on Canadian heavy crude. •  In Canada, the slowdown in the second half of 2012 was more pronounced than the Bank had anticipated, owing to weaker business investment and exports.