The reinsurance arm of investment firm Brookfield BN.TOoffered to buy U.S. annuities provider American Equity Investment Life Holding AEL.N in a deal worth nearly $4.3 billion. "While the softer-than-expected core prints are a bit of good news, every inflation metric remains far above the 2% target," Benjamin Reitzes, managing director, Canadian rates & macro strategist at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a note. "BoC policymakers won't breathe a huge sigh of relief after this report as core inflation remains sticky and has yet to show signs of a durable slowdown."