News of the day: Banks eye major projects, U.S. dollar bear market, investing advice, merit-based pay increases, salvaging Canada

It’s Monday, Aug. 31. Here are the top stories we’re following today.

Why Canada’s major projects push has the big banks salivating

A decision by Canada’s top banking regulator to reduce the amount of money that the Big Six must keep aside to tackle financial shocks has freed up billions of dollars in capital, but an uncertain economy, weak loan demand and unattractive acquisition targets are making it challenging for banks to deploy that excess cash effectively.

David Rosenberg: U.S. dollar bear market looms as the world loses confidence in the White House

Just because the greenback is the world’s reserve currency does not mean it can escape down cycles. David Rosenberg strongly senses one is confronting us and we should be prepared.

Canada-U.S. trade war, rising rates and debt: What stock market investors need to know

As higher rates and political risks reshape markets, opportunities may lie beyond the short-term noise, writes Martin Pelletier.

Employers plan steady merit-based pay increases for 2027 despite uncertainty, survey says

Mercer Canada said its survey of more than 470 Canadian organizations found that employers, on average, plan to hold base salary increases for merit nearly the same as reported in the last two years.

Canada-U.S. free trade was a model for the world. Can anything save it now?

The collapse of trade talks between Canada and the United States this past weekend and the ensuing fallout have stoked debate about whether the entwined economic relationship between the countries — held up around the world as a model of economic cooperation — will survive and, if so, in what form.