Financial Post Big Picture

A new report shows an increasing trend among Canadian travellers: flying from U.S. airports instead of Canadian ones. FP reporter Scott Deveau sits down with us this week to explain what the big attraction is. Also, we explore what a new government in Egypt will mean for the country's economic future.

This week, we break down what the merger of the TMX Group and the London Stock Exchange Group means for investors, and more importantly, for the future of stock trading. Also, FP mining reporter Peter Koven explains whether the ongoing boom in commodity prices has legs in 2011.

Netflix lashed out ISPs and the CRTC over bandwidth usage caps this week. FP reporter Jamie Sturgeon has more/It was a busy week for stock markets as a slew of economic news and corporate earnings kept traders busy. CMC Market's Colin Cieszynski explains what you need to know.

This week, columnist Garry Marr talks about what he discovered in his credit rating report, and we get FP reporter Carrie Tait to explain what higher oil prices mean for Canada’s economy this year.

Financial Post speaks with Centerra Gold CEO Stephen Lang about his company’s stellar performance in 2010.

Alert, cheap chic shoppers everywhere: Target is coming to Canada. FP retail reporter Hollie Shaw has the all the details on the newest competitor on the shopping landscape./They're the two acronyms that force you to make one big investment decision. This week we sit down with FP's personal finance columnist, Jonathan Chevreau, to talk about the best way to make use of these investment options.

It's the biggest techie event of the year, full of tablets, 3D TVs, blinky lights and nerds, and FP's Matt Hartley is right in the thick of it calling in from the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for a special edition of the FP Big Picture Podcast.

Most of us are busy coming up with shopping lists right now for family and friends, but what about the barbers, babysitters, maids and teachers in our lives? Garry Marr, owner of the Dusty Wallet, wades into the debate over when, why, and most importantly how much to tip this holiday season. Also this week, we talk about what China is up to exactly with its latest interest rate announcement. Chief economist for High Frequency Economics, Carl Weinberg, explains why the Chinese central bank gave some analysts an unexpected surprise last weekend

TMX Group, the company behind the Toronto Stock Exchange, has hit the road trying to drum up business in far flung countries such as China, Brazil, Israel and Colombia. FP reporter Karen Mazurkewich talks about the steep revenue challenges TMX is facing from alternative exchanges. Also this week, we share how you can survive the Christmas shopping crowds using some handy apps. The Financial Post's very own intern, Julia Johnson, explains the technological tools you need to get in and out quickly this holiday season.

Five of Canada's six major banks announced their earnings this week, and only one revealed it was boosting its dividend. FP banking reporter John Greenwood reveals the winners, the losers, and explains why National Bank investors were the only ones treated to a dividend hike/Financial Post mining reporter Peter Koven recently spent five weeks in China and Mongolia investigating the prospects for Canadian investment there, and joins the podcast to preview the conclusion of his series in Saturday's edition

A proposed $1-billion lawsuit against Shoppers Drug Mart has been launched by two of its franchisees. At issue is the loss of a $750-million a year revenue stream for the pharmaceutical industry in Ontario. FP legal editor Drew Hasselback explains why the lawsuit is being watched by big players in other provinces, and what it all means/While larger leagues such as the NFL, NBA and NHL grapple with rogue player-Twitterers and militant bloggers, the CFL has quietly grown an inclusive, successful grassroots online utopia. Matt Hartley has more on how the CFL has gotten social media right

Where does automaker go after IPO--How to shake China’s rare earth dominance--Earlier this week, GM launched its long-awaited IPO. FP reporter Scott Deveau talks about the share price, stock sales by the U.S. and Canadian governments, and where the automaker goes from here/FP reporter Peter Koven discusses how one Canadian company has cashed in on China’s rare earth dominance, and how the Communist country’s recent quota on the metals has led to a rush to develop rare earth mines in other countries

Austerity needed, just not now/Call of Duty breaks sales records Countries all over the place are sagging under mountains of debt, but this is not the time to tighten our belts. FP reporter John Shmuel explains why austerity is necessary, but not necessarily right now/Amidst a slump in video game sales, Activision-Blizzard's latest offering —Call of Duty: Black Ops — broke first-day sales records earlier this week. FP reporter Jameson Berkow talks about whether the company can lift the industry out of its slowing growth

After months of speculation and rampant politicking, Ottawa has shot down BHP's controversial US$40-billion bid for Potash Corp. Peter Koven, FP's erstwhile mining reporter, explains why/FP reporter Tim Shufelt talks about the significance behind North American stock indices recouping their post-Lehman Brothers losses, and where equities will go from here.

What the U.S. mid-term elections will hold for the economy -- Why investors are willing to earn less than nothing on U.S. debt; FP reporter Jonathan Ratner talks about what a change in the U.S. Political arena will mean for the country's economy and stock market -- For the first time, investors have bought a bond with a negative yield, but as David Pett explains there are some very good reasons why people are taking the chance.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall waxes patriotic in an anti-BHP takeover speech. Peter Koven has the latest on where this leaves Potash Corp. -- Steve Jobs took time during Apple's earnings release on Monday to tear into the competition. FP tech reporter Matt Hartley shares his thoughts

Apple well on its way to world domination--How to offload your house in today's market; Shares in Apple Inc. vaulted past the US$300 threshold earlier this week, and FP tech reporter Jameson Berkow has the latest on Apple’s march towards global domination/With recent changes to the Multiple Listing Service in Canada, we sit down with real estate columnist Garry Marr to talk about selling your home

Governments warn of currency manipulation--FP reporters Tim Shufelt and Jonathan Ratner discuss whether the world is on the brink of an all out currency war

Earlier this week, Research In Motion introduced the world to its newest device, the Playbook. FP reporter Jameson Berkow talks about whether the tablet can go toe-to-toe with Apple’s massively popular iPad -- Two years removed from a massive bailout, some of the biggest U.S. Businesses are suddenly sitting on massive cash reserves. New York correspondent Janet Whitman lays out their options

Salad days for gold prices--With the price of gold soaring past US$1,300 an ounce, FP investing reporter David Pett stops by to explain what is going on and how investors can take advantage.