GunnAllen Financial Inc. has reached an agreement to be acquired by a West Coast asset manager, Progressive Asset Management Inc., which also controls a broker-dealer.

C anada’s economy expanded for a third straight month in November, as mining, energy and wholesale trade helped pull the country further out of recession. The 0.4-per-cent growth in the month, reported Friday by Statistics Canada, was more than economists expected. The federal statistics gathering agency also revised October’s growth figure up to 0.3 per cent, from the initially reported 0.2 pert cent

T he U.S. economy grew for a second straight quarter from October through December, posting a better-than-expected 5.7 per cent annual rate, the fastest quarterly pace since 2003. The U.S.

Let’s face it – having bad credit can be both embarrassing and frustrating. It can keep you from having the home of your dreams and even prevent you from getting a job.

The economy grew for a second straight quarter from October through December, posting a 5.7 percent annual rate, the fastest pace since the third quarter of 2003. The Commerce Department report is the strongest evidence to date that the worst recession since the 1930s ended last year, though an academic panel that dates recessions has yet to officially declare an end to it. The two straight quarters of growth last year followed a record four quarters of economic decline

S hares in Canadian-listed coal miner SouthGobi Energy Resources Ltd. SGQ-T fell about 11 per cent on their Hong Kong debut, hurt by the stock’s overly high valuation and poor timing. SouthGobi, which raised $439-million (U.S.) in its IPO, is the second company to list in Hong Kong in 2010 after Russia’s UC RUSAL.

B HP Billiton Ltd. BHP-N , the world’s biggest miner, has approved $1.93-billion (U.S.) in capital expenses to spruce up rail and port facilities as it steps up expansion of its Australian iron ore business to feed rising demand from Chinese steelmakers.