The Canadian dollar is weakening in comparison to the US dollar, and the slide doesn't appear to be slowing.  However, the latest downturn may be a result of the US dollar's sudden comeback; a result of a surprise rise in June home sales.  For certain Canadians, this slide may actually be of benefit, as many internet businesses get paid in US dollars, and a sliding Canadian dollar yields larger pay after the exchange.  Canadian companies who sell to American customers in Canadian currency may also benefit, as the US dollar will now go a little farther for those consumers.

Avon, which hit a 52 week high yesterday, has announced a new men's fragrance created with Patrick Dempsey.  It's called Patrick Dempsey Unscripted, and will be available in the US in November and globally in 2009.  Normally, this wouldn't be something I'd be interested in writing about (I buy Burberry Brit from Holt Renfrew), but I started thinking about how this partnership could be expanded.  Isn't one of Avon's largest consumer groups actually its distributors, and aren't the majority of Avon distributors female?  I would have thought that bringing Patrick Dempsey on board to create a women's perfume would have been a guaranteed hit.  Is it coming down the pipeline, did Avon miss the boat, or am I missing something?  Maybe they simply couldn't get the trademark rights for the perfect title:  McDreamy.