RE: china investmentLundu, you're missing the point completely! You need to have disposable income in order to save! On top of that there is a very healthy mistrust of both corporations and government that prevails throughout mainland China! Banks are not high on the list of companies that are held in high esteem! People that DO have extra monies at the end of the day would be more likely to put the money into silver or many other tangible assets! Silver has a very long history in China, where collecting a very small amount of interest simply doesn't show up on the radar screen for the vast majority of the Chinese!
You've also missed the point that BNS grossly overpaid for this asset! Another in a string of bad decisions by management!
I agree with you wholeheartedly HF, that Canadian banks should be focused on improving their balance sheets, rather than stuffing their pockets like pigs at the trough!
All the best and a Happy New Year,
The Bluenote