B uilders broke ground on more homes than expected last month, led by a boom in British Columbia, home to this month’s Winter Olympics. Housing starts jumped 5.8 per cent to a 15-month high of 186,300 units in January on a seasonally adjusted annual basis with both multiple and single starts posting gains, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Monday.

T he Canpotex fertilizer marketing partnership has agreed to sell 350,000 tonnes of Canadian potash to China’s Sinofert. The fertilizer ingredient was sold at “competitive prices” on the spot market and is to be shipped before the end of March. Canpotex didn’t disclose what price Sinofert paid for the potash

S tories Report on Business is following today: Home construction picks up again The market for new homes is beginning to show the same bounce that led to the remarkable recovery in resales after the slump. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said this morning that housing starts in January jumped 5.8 per cent to a seasonally adjust annual rate of 186,300, with gains in both single homes and condominiums

I have seen small fortunes spent in the fading hours of Valentine’s Day, as men and women alike grasp at last-minute gifts for their significant others. This year, Valentine’s Day arrives amid spiking household debt and flagging consumer confidence.

The Short Sterling futures market has been too bearish, expecting the Bank of England to begin raising interest rates both sooner and further than now appears the case. The Macro Trader’s view: The Short Sterling futures market has been too bearish, expecting the Bank of England to begin raising interest rates both sooner and further than now appears the case. Despite: – record low interest rates, – an unprecedented quantum easing program by the Bank of England, and – a sizeable fiscal stimulus and debt deterioration, that is unparalleled in peace time

The private equity firm that owns the majority stake of the natural gas plant in Connecticut that blew up on Sunday says it is fully cooperating with authorities investigating the fatal explosion. According to reports, Energy Investors Funds recently acquired 80% of the Kleen Energy plant In Middletown, Conn. Construction on the the plant, which was 95% complete, began in February 2008 and was expected to be finished this spring

I t may seem like the poster child for uber-consumption, but Wal-Mart Canada Corp. is intent on greening its image. On Wednesday, the discount titan aims to make an environmental splash by hosting a sustainability business summit in Vancouver.