Financial Post Big Picture

RIM is on the ropes after another round of weak earnings and surprisingly low sales of its tablet, the PlayBook. We talk about what comes next for the BlackBerry maker. Plus, we find out how to make the most of online coupon sites with FP personal finance columnist, Garry Marr.

The Bank of Canada decided Wednesday keep rates at 1%. Christopher Molder, a Toronto mortgage broker with Tridac Mortgages, explains where rates will go. Also, we talk to FP columnist Garry Marr about why Canadians find it so hard to save their money

Research in Motion's head honchos Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis were on the hot seat at the company AGM this week. FP tech guru Matt Hartley was there and has the details on the critical next six months for RIM/After raising prices for months, it looks like airlines might cut us a break and drop fares soon. FP transportation reporter Scott Deveau gets our hopes up.

With debt woes and unemployment rising, the U.S. Economy is in a rough spot. John Greenwood, FP Street Reporter, journeyed to the front lines of American politics and shares his experience following a band of Tea Party activists across Iowa

This week on the podcast: We examine Bombardier's performance at this year's Paris Air Show, and give our thoughts on Canada's swanky new bank notes.

Podcast Roundtable: FP reporters Jameson Berkow and John Shmuel dive into the world of junk food and beer to unwrap the twin rise of fancy fast food joints and craft brewing owned and operated by mainstream companies such as McDonald's and Molson

Sino-Forest Corp. has long been heralded as one of the few successes in forestry, but an explosive Muddy Waters report has clouded that record. FP reporters Peter Koven, David Pett and John Shmuel engage in a roundtable discussion on the saga so far, the implications for markets and investors, and what we know so far of the report's mysterious author Carson Block

After 15 long years in the cold, dark wilderness, Winnipeg has triumphantly returned to the warming warmth of the NHL. National Post sports columnist Bruce Arthur has all the details on the dollars behind the deal. While we were sleeping, Canada Post workers went on strike. But is the service relevant enough for people to care anymore? Vincent Geloso, economist with the Montreal Economic Institute, says no and is calling for the Canada Post to privatize.

Housing prices have been on a tear in Canada recently, especially in Vancouver where foreign investment is becoming a real theme. Phil Soper, chief executive with Royal LePage, explains why the West Coast is the best coast and what you should think about if you're planning on buying or selling

The search for the next IMF chief has begun, and some are speculating that the first Asian could be appointed to the position. We talk to McGill economics professor Tom Velk about his thoughts. Also this week — do Canadians need more than one car to get around, or is it just a really nice perk? FP personal finance columnist Garry Marr reconsiders his two-car status

The sale of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment took a step forward this week when the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan bought out TD Bank's 13% stake.  FP's chief business correspondent Theresa Tedesco has the insider details on what happens next to the Leafs/Last week saw oil, silver and gold prices obliterated in a sudden commodity rout. This week, amid increasing price volatility, FP's mining reporter Peter Koven gives you a run down of why prices suddenly reversed and where they go next

RIM shareholders got a familiar piece of news this week: a lower earnings forecast, and shares plunged as a result. We talk to FP tech reporter Matt Hartley about whether investors are overreacting, or whether it's time to bail on RIM. Plus: All those warnings we've been getting about the North American economy running out of gas in 2011 look to be coming true, as both Canada and the United States put up weak GDP figures this week. Paul Ashworth, chief North America economist with Capital Economics, has the details

Sifting through the plethora of cash back and points rewards credit cards can be a daunting task, especially as new ones seem to come out every year. FP columnist Garry Marr debates whether you should be opting for points or cash back./The high-flying loonie has been above parity with the greenback for a while now, yet we're still paying on average 20% more for products like Justin Bieber CDs than our southern neighbours. FP reporter Jameson Berkow explains why.

The election promises are coming fast and furious, and that's been no different on the personal finance side of things. The Conservatives recently announced they will allow couples to split their income for tax purposes, and also said they will double the TFSA contribution limit. FP's personal finance columnist, Jonathan Chevreau, provides his take. Also — with the ECB raising interest rates this week for the first time in three years, attention now turns to Canada, which has not touched its own rates since last September. Doug Porter, deputy chief economist with BMO Capital Markets, gives FP a rundown of the issues.

Radiation leaking from damaged reactors in Japan is a major problem. Or is it? FP columnist Lawrence Solomon argues radiation, in small doses, is actually good for you. Also this week: we take a closer look at Magna International's research into plastic car components, and why you might be driving a plastic car in the not too distant future.

With less than a month to go before the launch of its PlayBook tablet, RIM has put out a weaker-than-expected forecast for its first quarter. We explain whether it's time to be dumping RIM shares — or buying them. nothing better than an election to wipe out the winter blues. FP reporter Paul Vieira was in Ottawa for budget day on Tuesday and has all the details on what Canadians have to look forward to in a likely spring campaign

Stock markets have been on a roller coaster ride as Japan struggles to tackle the aftermath of last week's earthquake. Richard Jenkins of Black Creek Investment Management talks about what it all means for your portfolio./The spiraling nuclear crisis in Japan has reignited the debate on nuclear energy. Adam Fremeth, public policy professor with Richard Ivey School of Business, discusses the issues facing policymakers

Thomas Lee, JPMorgan's chief U.S. equity strategist, explains what we can expect from stocks in the coming months —including a prediction of a correction coming as early as late-March./The Bay is going British, bringing trendy UK fashion retailers Topshop and Topman to Canada. FP reporter Hollie Shaw has more

March is the two-year anniversary of the beginning of the current stock market rally. But is this just a cyclical trend about to go bust? Or does this rally still have legs? FP's David Pett gives his thoughts. Also, everybody circle your calendars — it's PDAC time again. Our very own Peter Koven previews the biggest mining convention of the year

Reporter Barbara Shecter breaks down the many political hurdles standing in the way of a TMX-LSE tie-up, and how the companies will try and overcome them/Of the 33 movies sitting in top spot at the box office last year, Apple products appeared in a third of them. FP reporter Matt Hartley takes a look at why product placement is still relevant

A new report shows an increasing trend among Canadian travellers: flying from U.S. airports instead of Canadian ones. FP reporter Scott Deveau sits down with us this week to explain what the big attraction is. Also, we explore what a new government in Egypt will mean for the country's economic future.

This week, we break down what the merger of the TMX Group and the London Stock Exchange Group means for investors, and more importantly, for the future of stock trading. Also, FP mining reporter Peter Koven explains whether the ongoing boom in commodity prices has legs in 2011.

Netflix lashed out ISPs and the CRTC over bandwidth usage caps this week. FP reporter Jamie Sturgeon has more/It was a busy week for stock markets as a slew of economic news and corporate earnings kept traders busy. CMC Market's Colin Cieszynski explains what you need to know.

This week, columnist Garry Marr talks about what he discovered in his credit rating report, and we get FP reporter Carrie Tait to explain what higher oil prices mean for Canada’s economy this year.

Financial Post speaks with Centerra Gold CEO Stephen Lang about his company’s stellar performance in 2010.

Alert, cheap chic shoppers everywhere: Target is coming to Canada. FP retail reporter Hollie Shaw has the all the details on the newest competitor on the shopping landscape./They're the two acronyms that force you to make one big investment decision. This week we sit down with FP's personal finance columnist, Jonathan Chevreau, to talk about the best way to make use of these investment options.

It's the biggest techie event of the year, full of tablets, 3D TVs, blinky lights and nerds, and FP's Matt Hartley is right in the thick of it calling in from the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for a special edition of the FP Big Picture Podcast.

Most of us are busy coming up with shopping lists right now for family and friends, but what about the barbers, babysitters, maids and teachers in our lives? Garry Marr, owner of the Dusty Wallet, wades into the debate over when, why, and most importantly how much to tip this holiday season. Also this week, we talk about what China is up to exactly with its latest interest rate announcement. Chief economist for High Frequency Economics, Carl Weinberg, explains why the Chinese central bank gave some analysts an unexpected surprise last weekend

TMX Group, the company behind the Toronto Stock Exchange, has hit the road trying to drum up business in far flung countries such as China, Brazil, Israel and Colombia. FP reporter Karen Mazurkewich talks about the steep revenue challenges TMX is facing from alternative exchanges. Also this week, we share how you can survive the Christmas shopping crowds using some handy apps. The Financial Post's very own intern, Julia Johnson, explains the technological tools you need to get in and out quickly this holiday season.

Five of Canada's six major banks announced their earnings this week, and only one revealed it was boosting its dividend. FP banking reporter John Greenwood reveals the winners, the losers, and explains why National Bank investors were the only ones treated to a dividend hike/Financial Post mining reporter Peter Koven recently spent five weeks in China and Mongolia investigating the prospects for Canadian investment there, and joins the podcast to preview the conclusion of his series in Saturday's edition

A proposed $1-billion lawsuit against Shoppers Drug Mart has been launched by two of its franchisees. At issue is the loss of a $750-million a year revenue stream for the pharmaceutical industry in Ontario. FP legal editor Drew Hasselback explains why the lawsuit is being watched by big players in other provinces, and what it all means/While larger leagues such as the NFL, NBA and NHL grapple with rogue player-Twitterers and militant bloggers, the CFL has quietly grown an inclusive, successful grassroots online utopia. Matt Hartley has more on how the CFL has gotten social media right

Where does automaker go after IPO--How to shake China’s rare earth dominance--Earlier this week, GM launched its long-awaited IPO. FP reporter Scott Deveau talks about the share price, stock sales by the U.S. and Canadian governments, and where the automaker goes from here/FP reporter Peter Koven discusses how one Canadian company has cashed in on China’s rare earth dominance, and how the Communist country’s recent quota on the metals has led to a rush to develop rare earth mines in other countries

Austerity needed, just not now/Call of Duty breaks sales records Countries all over the place are sagging under mountains of debt, but this is not the time to tighten our belts. FP reporter John Shmuel explains why austerity is necessary, but not necessarily right now/Amidst a slump in video game sales, Activision-Blizzard's latest offering —Call of Duty: Black Ops — broke first-day sales records earlier this week. FP reporter Jameson Berkow talks about whether the company can lift the industry out of its slowing growth

After months of speculation and rampant politicking, Ottawa has shot down BHP's controversial US$40-billion bid for Potash Corp. Peter Koven, FP's erstwhile mining reporter, explains why/FP reporter Tim Shufelt talks about the significance behind North American stock indices recouping their post-Lehman Brothers losses, and where equities will go from here.

What the U.S. mid-term elections will hold for the economy -- Why investors are willing to earn less than nothing on U.S. debt; FP reporter Jonathan Ratner talks about what a change in the U.S. Political arena will mean for the country's economy and stock market -- For the first time, investors have bought a bond with a negative yield, but as David Pett explains there are some very good reasons why people are taking the chance.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall waxes patriotic in an anti-BHP takeover speech. Peter Koven has the latest on where this leaves Potash Corp. -- Steve Jobs took time during Apple's earnings release on Monday to tear into the competition. FP tech reporter Matt Hartley shares his thoughts

Apple well on its way to world domination--How to offload your house in today's market; Shares in Apple Inc. vaulted past the US$300 threshold earlier this week, and FP tech reporter Jameson Berkow has the latest on Apple’s march towards global domination/With recent changes to the Multiple Listing Service in Canada, we sit down with real estate columnist Garry Marr to talk about selling your home

Governments warn of currency manipulation--FP reporters Tim Shufelt and Jonathan Ratner discuss whether the world is on the brink of an all out currency war

Earlier this week, Research In Motion introduced the world to its newest device, the Playbook. FP reporter Jameson Berkow talks about whether the tablet can go toe-to-toe with Apple’s massively popular iPad -- Two years removed from a massive bailout, some of the biggest U.S. Businesses are suddenly sitting on massive cash reserves. New York correspondent Janet Whitman lays out their options

Salad days for gold prices--With the price of gold soaring past US$1,300 an ounce, FP investing reporter David Pett stops by to explain what is going on and how investors can take advantage.

How Google created Android; Dispatches from the World Energy Congress: FP reporter Matt Hartley reveals the origins of Google’s superpowered mobile operating system Android, and why it is so critical to its goal of world smartphone domination/From Montreal, Carrie Tait reviews the latest thinktank on our global energy issues, the World Energy Congress

FP catches up with award-winning journalist and author Gillian Tett of Financial Times on the streets of Toronto to talk about the 2008 financial crisis and her involvement in “Inside Job,” a new documentary on the crisis premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. FP reporter Jonathan Ratner dishes the dirty details on how financial fraud investigator Harry Markopolos brought Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff to justice

Political fallout from Australia's dead-heat election result/The murky world of junk food advertising for kids FP’s resident Aussie Barry Critchley talks about Australia's too-close-to-call election, and how the winner could be determined./Hollie Shaw lays out the rules for junk food advertisers when targeting kids — and why they don’t really need to follow them

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan surprised many when it revealed a US$38.6-billion hostile bid from Australian BHP Billiton earlier this week. FP mining reporter Peter Koven has the latest on this developing story.

General Motors posts big profit as it prepares for IPO; Couche-Tard's hostile bid for Casey's is stuck in a rut: Scott Deveau explains how General Motors has turned itself around, and what it still needs to do/Nick Van Praet has the latest on Couche-Tard and its bid for U.S. chain Casey's General Stores

Matt Hartley reviews RIM's busy week juggling a brewing international controversy while launching a new BlackBerry/Karen Mazurkewich explains why the Ontario Teachers Pension plan bought a big stake in Transocean, the oil rig contractor involved in the Gulf of Mexico spill

Paul Vieira talks about a surprise warning of potential Japanese-style deflation in the United States/Jonathan Ratner explains why investors should look to emerging markets when buying defence stocks.

David Pett explains why analysts and investors are saying Apple shares still look dirt cheap at more than US$250 a pop/Matt Hartley talks about how online and on-demand movies are making the video rental store obsolete

Janet Whitman breaks down the US$550-million fine Goldman Sachs agreed to pay to settle fraud allegations/John Shmuel talks about Activision's next big game, Starcraft 2, and the state of the online gaming industry

Carrie Tait explains how Total SA of France finally bought Calgary's UTS Energy, and why the deal has an unusual structure. Branded entertainment — entire shows based around a brand — are becoming rather popular on the Internet. Hollie Shaw explains why viewers are tuning in.