The Daily Download

Canadian Housing Market — “Canadian housing starts set to slow through 2028 as demand weakens: CMHC”

CMHC forecasts that Canadian housing starts will slow through 2028 due to weakening demand. This trend reflects broader challenges in the residential real estate market that impact property transaction volumes.

Canadian Housing Market — “Posthaste: CIBC warns Canada's housing market is in rougher shape than we thought”

CIBC has issued a warning that Canada's housing market conditions are more challenging than previously understood. The assessment suggests significant headwinds in the real estate sector with implications for property transactions.

Canadian Housing Market — “News | New home sales to decline in 2025”

CoStar reports that new home sales are expected to decline in 2025. This forecast reflects softening demand in the residential construction and real estate market.

Canadian Real Estate — “Vancouver leads surprise rebound in home affordability across Canada”

Vancouver has experienced a notable rebound in home affordability, leading similar improvements across other Canadian markets. This trend suggests a shift in the residential real estate landscape with implications for transaction activity.

LEAP — “LEAP Estates releases 2026 Private Client Industry Report on Wills and Estate Planning Trends”

LEAP Estates has released its 2026 Private Client Industry Report focusing on wills and estate planning trends. This report provides insights into the private client legal services market across multiple regions.

Central Bank Policy — “Bank of England Holds Rates but Signals Crucial Easing Ahead”

The Bank of England maintained interest rates at current levels while signaling a shift toward monetary easing in the coming period. This decision reflects the central bank's assessment of inflation trends and economic conditions in the UK.

Sterling & FX Markets — “Sterling nears one-month low as investors bet on BoE rate cuts”

Sterling has declined to near one-month lows as market participants anticipate upcoming rate cuts from the Bank of England. The currency weakness reflects expectations for monetary easing in response to evolving economic conditions.

M&A Market Trends — “Quality over volume: how the 2026 M&A market works”

The 2026 M&A market is showing a shift toward quality deals over transaction volume, reflecting selective dealmaking by strategic buyers and investors. This trend has implications for the legal services sector supporting mergers and acquisitions.

Reserve Bank of Australia — “Australia's Unemployment Rate Defies Expectations: Steady at 4.1% in January Signals Labor Market Resilience”

Australia's unemployment rate remained stable at 4.1% in January despite expectations of potential movement, indicating a resilient labor market. This stability is relevant to the RBA's assessment of economic conditions and future monetary policy decisions.