Market News

Canadian bank news dominated headlines after Laurentian Bank agreed to be acquired in a two-part transaction involving Fairstone and National Bank, while Scotiabank reported stronger results in capital markets and wealth management. The deal marks the end of Laurentian’s presence on the public markets as its branches in Quebec are set to be closed.

BNN Bloomberg spoke with Lorne Steinberg, president of Lorne Steinberg Wealth Management, who said Scotiabank’s strategic overhaul is gaining traction and could help narrow its valuation gap with peers. He also noted that stable employment, moderating GDP growth and declining bankruptcies have supported bank fundamentals heading into Q4 earnings.

Key Takeaways

• Laurentian Bank’s sale to Fairstone and National Bank ends its public listing and will result in all Quebec branches being closed.
• Scotiabank’s strategic refocus on domestic and wealth operations is showing progress after a decade of underperformance.
• Canadian banks enter Q4 with stable employment, moderating GDP growth and slightly lower bankruptcy rates supporting fundamentals.
• AI is driving efficiency across banks but heavy tech-sector capital spending poses valuation risks into 2026.
• Investors may find value in overlooked global consumer giants such as Nestlé and Unilever as tech leadership moderates.