Andrew Bell

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“I'm fed up with the idiots... the ever-widening gap between people who know how to make movies and the people who green-light the movies” -- Sean Connery

The actor - dubbed Sexiest Man of the Century by People magazine in 1999 - was born on this date in 1930 in Edinburgh. 

After a stint in the Royal Navy, Connery was a milk deliveryman, a labourer and (apparently) a coffin polisher. A soccer player and body builder, he worked backstage at Edinburgh’s King's Theatre, which inspired him to take a small part in a production of South Pacific. His big breakthrough was starring in the first five James Bond films, starting with Dr. No in 1962. Bond author Ian Fleming originally spurned Connery, complaining that "I'm looking for Commander Bond and not an overgrown stunt-man," but was eventually won over. Connery’s only Oscar was Best Supporting Actor for his role as tough cop in The Untouchables, a gangster movie that featured Robert De Niro as Al Capone.

The  marijuana business used to be the province of such shady fellows but, with dizzying speed, it has acquired legitimacy as Canada and possibly California veer toward legalization. And investors have been throwing money at the industry. Producer Aphria (APH.V) just sold 17.25 million shares at $2 each and Canopy Growth ,which now trades on the TSX under the symbol CGC, printed up 9.5 million at $3,65 apiece.

At  8:30 a.m. ET on BNN, we'll hear from  Aphria chief executive officer Vic Neufeld on what's ahead for a company that Dundee says offers “a track record of low-cost commercial-scale greenhouse” operations plus a  “pharmaceutical-like approach to agri-business.”

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Our Top Line on BNN today is the continuing streak of above-expectations profits from Canada’s big banks. CIBC  posted adjusted profit of $2.67 per share, way ahead of the $2.35 analyst forecast. Canaccord points to a “sharp improvement in credit performance, especially in the oil & gas portfolio” and strong results from Canadian banking. TD came in with $1.27 per share, beating expectations by 6 cents. Barclays reckons the TD performance  “will receive a warm reception from the market today.”

At 12:00 p.m. ET, we’ll get perspective from a money manager evaluating the banks when we hear from Patrick Blais of Manulife Asset Management.

We can never devour enough produce and livestock on our Commodities show (except for spiders, thanks) so at 11:30 a.m. ET, we’ll be joined by Debbi Conzelmann, CEO of King Cole Ducks, a leading duck processor which has opened a store in Toronto and offers duck cooking classes. Canadian duck producers are boosting output to meet growing demand spurred in part by the arrival in Ontario of immigrants from duck-loving places such as Russia and the Czech Republic.

Finally, after the apparent rehabilitation of fats as healthy food, its seems that even white pasta and spuds are getting a reprieve. Research indicates that carbs called “resistant starch” can help control weight. One source: Leftovers. “When you cook a certain starchy food, like white rice, pasta or a potato, and then cool it in the refrigerator, the food develops resistant starches,” Time reports.

Looks like hungover bachelors gnawing on cold pizza are onto something after all. 

Every morning Commodities host Andrew Bell writes a ‘chase note’ to BNN's editorial staff listing the stories and events that will be in the spotlight that day. Have it delivered to your inbox before the trading day begins by heading to www.bnn.ca/subscribe.