Canada’s threat to Amazon, Boeing gets a ‘B’ from WestJet, and more top news

The news Canadian professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation by clicking the hashtags below.

E-commerce prodigy Shopify may just be Amazon’s biggest threat. At US$35.5 billion ($46.7 billion), the Ottawa-based company has surpassed eBay in market value as Amazon’s top competitor. While the American tech giant still dominates the market, Shopify’s speedy growth is giving Amazon a run for its money, says the CBC. The Canadian marketplace recently hit one million merchants, adding 180,000 in less than a year. Shopify says it isn’t looking to compete and will continue to focus on “what's best for our merchants." ? Here’s what people are saying.

Boeing could've done a better job handling the crisis around the 737 MAX jets involved in two fatal crashes, WestJet's chief executive Ed Sims told BNN Bloomberg. “I would grade it no higher than a ‘B,’” he said. WestJet is among the global airlines that has grounded its fleet of 737 MAX planes until regulators deem them safe. Sims said the Canadian airline is seeking compensation from Boeing for lost ticket sales, schedule disruptions and damages to its brand and reputation, especially if passengers fear the jets. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Apple posted better-than-expected earnings despite signs of waning interest in its flagship iPhone. The company was helped by a 54% jump in wearables income, as well as an 18% sales rise in services like apps, subscriptions and mobile payments. Profit fell 3% to $13.69 billion, however, marking a fourth consecutive quarter of declines. Higher manufacturing costs, falling revenue in markets outside the Americas and weaker results in the Mac computer division all cut into the bottom line, although Apple said it was on track for a strong Christmas sales season. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz and his team said the economy is doing well and inflation has been close to target, but that Canada has "not been immune" to the impact of a global economic slowdown. The Canadian central bank stood pat on its 1.75% interest rate in a move that was widely expected, but stands out among its international peers. The Federal Reserve in the U.S. cut rates on Wednesday for the third time this year, while the bank also said over 35 central banks globally have loosened monetary policy in light of fading growth and soft inflation since July. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Uber Freight has arrived in Canada, in a move that could disrupt the country’s $68-billion trucking market amid a growing shortage of drivers. The service connects available truckers with shippers looking to transport freight, streamlining a "high friction" process traditionally fulfilled by freight brokerages. Some 500,000 American drivers have signed up for Uber Freight, but the service hasn't disclosed how many Canadian drivers and shippers are involved in its launch. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Leaders are not the loudest, writes David Sable, senior advisor at WPP.

“We have seen fraud and maybe fraud committed because the perpetrator was loud and drowned out the critics, swayed the masses, or at least the analysts, and silenced the skeptical and questioning. Being loud doesn’t make you the leader, it only makes you loud.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

— Riva Gold