Canadian banks are all looking for opportunities to grow in the United States.

The economy could slow down, and there is still uncertainty about interest rates.

If it were as negative as it appears on the surface, Microsoft stock would be dropping like a rock, and it's doing just the opposite. It doesn't appear to be something that's material in nature.

This seems to be a far more serious allegation.

I unequivocally believe this was leaked.

If we see a recovery this year and it becomes a stronger one than we expected, that will adversely affect bank stocks like they did in 1994 and 1999.

Republic is going to have to pay the price of what's gone on here. Is that price large enough to kill the deal? The answer at this time is no. But there is a better than 50 percent chance that the offering price has to be lowered.

It's a resolution of a long-simmering cloud that'd been hanging over this company. Though it's painful, the resolution could have been worse. It's good news that it's resolved.

If it were as negative as it appears on the surface, Microsoft's stock would be dropping like a rock, and it's doing just the opposite. The market is apparently saying, financially speaking, this is not a devastating event for Microsoft. Of course, as more news come out, that might change.