Updating Loblaw Companies LTD., Royal Bank of Canada, and Thomson Reuters Inc.

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $31 (Toronto symbol L) wants to shift about 10% of its part-time workers to full-time status. Right now, part-timers account for 80% of Loblaw’s workforce. More full-time workers would increase Loblaw’s labour costs, particularly as most of them are unionized. But the company feels it will offset these extra costs by lowering the high turnover rate among part-time workers. Hold. ROYAL BANK OF CANADA $34 (Toronto symbol RY) has paid an undisclosed figure for the 50% of Commission Direct Inc. (CDI) that it does not already own. CDI sells independent research and brokerage services to institutional investors. Gaining full control of CDI should make it easier for Royal to sell more services to CDI’s high-quality clientele. Buy. THOMSON REUTERS INC. $30 (Toronto symbol TRI) plans to launch a new video-news service in June 2009. Unlike cable TV business news channels, this service will only be available to Thomson Reuters’ clients. Users will be able to search for news items…