Weekend Edition: Butterflies Go Free

A couple of weeks ago we thought spring was finally here but this past week we were disappointed by the drop in temperatures and a miserable weather. So what do you do over the weekend when it’s raining and cold outside? Well I took the family to visit the Butterflies Go Free event in the Montreal Botanical Garden where you mingle with 1500 very colorful butterflies in a 30C degrees (86 F) greenhouse. It’s like visiting Costa Rica for less than $30 and the kids loved it.

Stock markets have been drifting lower this past week thanks in part to a disappointing start in earnings. Next week will be decisive as 20% of S&P500 companies will be reporting.  Will the markets remain bearish for this earning’s season? I guess we’ll know very soon.

Economic roundup:

Southern California Home Sales Decline 5.2%

More Americans Leaving Workforce

Jobless Rate For Young Is 25%—and Rising

Uranium Producers in Takeover Play

China, India Under Intense Inflation Pressure

Weekly blog roundup:

$300 Contest/Giveaway @ Stoopid Success until May 15th.

To Parity… and Beyond @Invest it Wisely

How To Track Your Dividend Investment Performance @Passive Income Earner

My favorite free stocks screeners @ My Own Advisor

3 REASONS TO CHOOSE INDEX FUNDS FOR YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO @Barbara Friedberg PF

Types of Stock Charts @ Million Dollar Journey

buying a home is better than renting @ Retire By 40

How to Travel the US & Canada on the Cheap @Young&Thrifty

Dividend Analysis: Chevron Corporation (CVX) @Intelligent Speculator

Penny Mining Stocks: The Value of Information @101 Centavos

REITs vs Direct Real Estate @Holy Potato

Foreign dividend tax treatment @ WhatIsDividend

I hope you’re having a better weather this weekend!