Canadian banks’ limited office loans offer investors some comfort

Limited exposure to U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) is giving shareholders hope that Canada’s big banks can weather the storm that has rocked rivals in the United States and Europe. However, investors will be on alert for signs of stress when Canada’s top six banks next week post first quarter earnings, that will continue to be pressured by high bad loan provisions. The beleaguered U.S. CRE sector has taken a toll on banks in Europe and Asia, with borrowers at the risk of defaulting on loans as high interest rates and low occupancies hit valuations.