Financial Post Big Picture Podcast

A proposed $1-billion lawsuit against Shoppers Drug Mart has been launched by two of its franchisees. At issue is the loss of a $750-million a year revenue stream for the pharmaceutical industry in Ontario. FP legal editor Drew Hasselback explains why the lawsuit is being watched by big players in other provinces, and what it all means/While larger leagues such as the NFL, NBA and NHL grapple with rogue player-Twitterers and militant bloggers, the CFL has quietly grown an inclusive, successful grassroots online utopia. Matt Hartley has more on how the CFL has gotten social media right

Where does automaker go after IPO--How to shake China’s rare earth dominance--Earlier this week, GM launched its long-awaited IPO. FP reporter Scott Deveau talks about the share price, stock sales by the U.S. and Canadian governments, and where the automaker goes from here/FP reporter Peter Koven discusses how one Canadian company has cashed in on China’s rare earth dominance, and how the Communist country’s recent quota on the metals has led to a rush to develop rare earth mines in other countries

Austerity needed, just not now/Call of Duty breaks sales records Countries all over the place are sagging under mountains of debt, but this is not the time to tighten our belts. FP reporter John Shmuel explains why austerity is necessary, but not necessarily right now/Amidst a slump in video game sales, Activision-Blizzard's latest offering —Call of Duty: Black Ops — broke first-day sales records earlier this week. FP reporter Jameson Berkow talks about whether the company can lift the industry out of its slowing growth

After months of speculation and rampant politicking, Ottawa has shot down BHP's controversial US$40-billion bid for Potash Corp. Peter Koven, FP's erstwhile mining reporter, explains why/FP reporter Tim Shufelt talks about the significance behind North American stock indices recouping their post-Lehman Brothers losses, and where equities will go from here.

What the U.S. mid-term elections will hold for the economy -- Why investors are willing to earn less than nothing on U.S. debt; FP reporter Jonathan Ratner talks about what a change in the U.S. Political arena will mean for the country's economy and stock market -- For the first time, investors have bought a bond with a negative yield, but as David Pett explains there are some very good reasons why people are taking the chance.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall waxes patriotic in an anti-BHP takeover speech. Peter Koven has the latest on where this leaves Potash Corp. -- Steve Jobs took time during Apple's earnings release on Monday to tear into the competition. FP tech reporter Matt Hartley shares his thoughts

Apple well on its way to world domination--How to offload your house in today's market; Shares in Apple Inc. vaulted past the US$300 threshold earlier this week, and FP tech reporter Jameson Berkow has the latest on Apple’s march towards global domination/With recent changes to the Multiple Listing Service in Canada, we sit down with real estate columnist Garry Marr to talk about selling your home

Governments warn of currency manipulation--FP reporters Tim Shufelt and Jonathan Ratner discuss whether the world is on the brink of an all out currency war

Earlier this week, Research In Motion introduced the world to its newest device, the Playbook. FP reporter Jameson Berkow talks about whether the tablet can go toe-to-toe with Apple’s massively popular iPad -- Two years removed from a massive bailout, some of the biggest U.S. Businesses are suddenly sitting on massive cash reserves. New York correspondent Janet Whitman lays out their options

Salad days for gold prices--With the price of gold soaring past US$1,300 an ounce, FP investing reporter David Pett stops by to explain what is going on and how investors can take advantage.

How Google created Android; Dispatches from the World Energy Congress: FP reporter Matt Hartley reveals the origins of Google’s superpowered mobile operating system Android, and why it is so critical to its goal of world smartphone domination/From Montreal, Carrie Tait reviews the latest thinktank on our global energy issues, the World Energy Congress

FP catches up with award-winning journalist and author Gillian Tett of Financial Times on the streets of Toronto to talk about the 2008 financial crisis and her involvement in “Inside Job,” a new documentary on the crisis premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. FP reporter Jonathan Ratner dishes the dirty details on how financial fraud investigator Harry Markopolos brought Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff to justice

Political fallout from Australia's dead-heat election result/The murky world of junk food advertising for kids FP’s resident Aussie Barry Critchley talks about Australia's too-close-to-call election, and how the winner could be determined./Hollie Shaw lays out the rules for junk food advertisers when targeting kids — and why they don’t really need to follow them

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan surprised many when it revealed a US$38.6-billion hostile bid from Australian BHP Billiton earlier this week. FP mining reporter Peter Koven has the latest on this developing story.

General Motors posts big profit as it prepares for IPO; Couche-Tard's hostile bid for Casey's is stuck in a rut: Scott Deveau explains how General Motors has turned itself around, and what it still needs to do/Nick Van Praet has the latest on Couche-Tard and its bid for U.S. chain Casey's General Stores