Miscellaneous
October 2, 2020
Published by Richard Coffin at October 2, 2020
Categories
While COVID-19 continued to stifle business activity, markets recovered some of their losses from the Q1 nose dive. Stocks in Canada, the US and internationally managed to reduce their year-to-date losses to the high-single-digit/low-double-digit range. Policy rates remain close to zero and governments continue to explore further stimulus options. Oil prices […]
April 3, 2020
Published by Richard Coffin at April 3, 2020
Categories
COVID-19 hit markets hard in the first quarter of 2020. With countries restricting travel and populations practicing social distancing, markets in Canada, the U.S., and internationally fell by approximately 20 to 25 per cent from their 2019 year-end values. Emergency rate cuts in Canada and the U.S. effectively brought policy […]
March 5, 2020
Published by Richard Coffin at March 5, 2020
Categories
Many are concerned that a new strain of coronavirus that has ravaged China may prompt the recession we have been expecting for so long, spreading globally and forcing factories to shut down, consumers to stay home and businesses to shrink operations. The concern has led to a newsworthy sell off […]
January 24, 2020
Published by Richard Coffin at January 24, 2020
Categories
Markets had a tremendous year, fully reversing the slump that occurred in 2018 and pushing past new highs in Canada and the U.S. Yields fell in Canada and the U.S., with three Federal Funds rate cuts causing a steeper decline in the States. Oil prices rebounded following rising tensions with […]
November 22, 2019
Published by Richard Coffin at November 22, 2019
Categories
Back in September, Bloomberg released an interview with hedge fund manager Michael Burry (link). Burry is famous for predicting the housing market bubble of 2008; he is even depicted by Christian Bale in “The Big Short” film, based on the book by Michael Lewis. In this interview, however, Burry expressed […]
October 7, 2019
Published by Richard Coffin at October 7, 2019
Categories
Trends from the first half of the year continued into the third quarter of 2019. Canadian and U.S. markets sustained their turbulent upward trajectory while 10-year government yields continued to sink, with the Federal Reserve cutting rates twice since the end of July. With the Bank of Canada holding steady […]
August 19, 2019
Published by Richard Coffin at August 19, 2019
Categories
Strategic Value Investing: Industry Analysis (GuruFocus) In the world of active management, investors can be easily infatuated by the qualities of a company. A business with healthy margins, high historical growth rates, and a solid balance sheet may stand out as an attractive buy. But as this month’s article points […]
July 19, 2019
Published by Richard Coffin at July 19, 2019
Categories
Canadian and U.S. markets hit new highs this year, recovering their losses from the December drop of 2018. A pause in rate hikes has led to a decline in bond yields, and the Federal Reserve’s dovish tone towards the economy has allowed the Canadian dollar to appreciate. Oil prices have […]
January 11, 2022
Published by Richard Coffin at January 11, 2022
Categories
North American stocks were red-hot in 2021 thanks to a speedy vaccine rollout, stimulus, and high discretionary income, but yields have risen on expectations of rate hikes in 2022. The energy sector led the charge thanks to rising oil prices, although in Canada the performance did not translate into a […]
October 4, 2021
Published by Richard Coffin at October 4, 2021
Categories
Markets in North America maintained their outsized return despite the quarter largely seeing its upwards progress erased by concerns around the downfall of Chinese behemoth Evergrande (see blog post here) and rising rates, although yields were only up marginally for the quarter. Elsewhere returns remained muted. The loonie strengthened on […]
September 27, 2021
Published by Richard Coffin at September 27, 2021
Categories
If you’ve been tuning into any financial news outlets lately, chances are you’ve been hearing the name “Evergrande” floating around as the reason for last week’s market volatility, with many comparing the company’s imminent collapse to that of Lehman Brothers, the American financial institution who’s bankruptcy kicked off the 2008 […]
July 23, 2021
Published by Richard Coffin at July 23, 2021
Categories
With COVID-19 waning, markets are shooting for new heights. While the US and international markets fared well, Canada actually outpaced its neighbour to the South thanks in part to a stark recovery in oil prices. The strong performance has allowed the Loonie to appreciate to levels not seen since 2015. […]