The U.S. stock futures were flat heading into Tuesday trading after a three-day rebound. Investors are hoping the U.S. government will provide more stimulus to keep the economy chugging along.
Here are three things to watch north of the border that could affect the TSX on Tuesday.
Cable companies might get dumped
Disney revealed August 19 that it would launch its Disney+ streaming platform in Canada on November 12. Charging $8.99 a month or $89.99 per year. Unlike the U.S., it will not launch as a bundle as it’s doing south of the border.
However, Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B)(NYSE:RCI) and BCE (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE) and the rest of the cable companies in Canada ought to be worried about the entertainment company’s latest venture prompting some Canadians to cut the cord.
“It just makes the household less dependent on cable-delivered video,” Kaan Yigit, a technology analyst at Solutions Research Group, told Canadian Business. “Some of those households will look to shave the cord — or cut the cord for that matter — over and above the intentions they might’ve had prior to Disney.”
The biggest question investors ought to be asking themselves today is whether Disney+ will provide enough content to damage the cable companies own offerings. Given the licensing differences between Canada and the U.S., however, the Canadian version isn’t likely to be nearly as persuasive.
I guess we’ll see.
Hudson’s Bay privatization plan in jeopardy
Catalyst Capital Group announced Monday that it had bought more than 18 million shares of Hudson’s Bay (TSX:HBC) at $10.11 a share.
By doing so, it has proven that the privatization bid by HBC Executive Chairman Richard Baker is inadequate. At the same time, it gives Catalyst an ownership stake that’s large enough to have a say about what ultimately happens to the company.
“Catalyst is committed to working with the Special Committee and the HBC Board to seek out every alternative that can maximize value for all shareholders,” Catalyst said in a release.
The fight for Canada’s largest department store just got a whole lot more interesting.
Bruce Linton buys more Canopy Growth
Former co-CEO and board chairman Bruce Linton is reported to have purchased more Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED)(NYSE:CGC) stock despite the fact he was pushed out of his job in July.
Linton confirmed in an email to BNN Bloomberg that he bought the cannabis company’s shares after they dropped to below $37 last week on weaker than expected earnings. Linton did not confirm how much he purchased. The former chief executive held 2.5 million shares as of June 28.
“[Canopy] continues to execute on the emerging opportunity for increasingly sophisticated global and national recreational and medical products. This is a vision and dedication exercise that is designed to reward shareholders over a huge and rapidly emerging market,” Linton said.
“August has always been a buying opportunity.”
If Canopy shares continue to fall, investors pro-cannabis might want to consider doing the same.
