October 4, 2024
Published by Richard Coffin at October 4, 2024
Categories
Stocks performed well in the third quarter, bringing year-to-date performance higher as the Federal Reserve finally began its rate cut campaign in September. Yields moved lower as a result, and while the Loonie remains down year-to-date, it’s recovered some of its lost ground as interest rate policies align with our […]
July 15, 2024
Published by Richard Coffin at July 15, 2024
Categories
Stocks saw mixed results in the first half, with indices surging in the US on the back of a handful of AI-focused heavy weights while only rising modestly elsewhere. 10-year yields meanwhile rose marginally despite Canada carrying out its first rate cut in June and more expected to come, with […]
April 8, 2024
Published by Richard Coffin at April 8, 2024
Categories
Stocks have had a strong start to the year despite persistent concerns around inflation, which continues to sit above targets. Central bankers maintain that rate cuts are coming, but markets have nonetheless pushed 10-year yields higher as investors reset expectations around the future stimulus, with the uncertainty likewise bring gold […]
July 14, 2023
Published by Richard Coffin at July 14, 2023
Categories
Stocks continued their strong recovery in the second quarter, thanks to a rally in tech (tied to generative AI) and lower inflation rates in Canada and the US. Still, with bond yields roughly flat and central bankers guiding for further hikes, recession fears remain high, something that has dragged down […]
April 4, 2023
Published by Richard Coffin at April 4, 2023
Categories
Stocks saw a hearty rebound in the first quarter, in part thanks to easing inflation and speculation around a potential pausing, if not reversal, of rate hikes in the US (Canada has already paused its contractionary policy). Long-term bond yields in both countries have come down as a result. Recession […]
January 13, 2023
Published by Richard Coffin at January 13, 2023
Categories
2022 was a brutal year for stocks, thanks to surging inflation and the resulting contractionary policies from central banks. Concerns of a recession have caused the US dollar to appreciate against the Loonie, while oil prices have moderated from their early-year highs, despite the invasion of Ukraine still hampering global […]
May 9, 2022
Published by Richard Coffin at May 9, 2022
Categories
If you have been keeping an eye on the equity markets lately, then you are painfully aware that so far, 2022 has been a bumpy ride for stocks. Positions that felt untouchable during the pandemic have seen a material downward correction, and while Canadian markets have only seen a moderate […]
April 5, 2022
Published by Richard Coffin at April 5, 2022
Categories
On February 24th, Russia invaded Ukraine, kicking off what’s been deemed the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe since the second World War. Oil, gold, and many other commodities spiked in price as investors anticipated supply chain disruptions, with Russia and Ukraine’s key role in a number of markets. At the […]
June 19, 2018
Published by Richard Coffin at June 19, 2018
Categories
Threat of a “trade war” has made the headlines lately. It started with President Trump’s tariffs on China, aimed at pressuring that country to allow more American investment and discourage further abuses of intellectual property. Now it’s hit us. Steel and aluminum tariffs, from which Canada was initially exempt, are […]
January 29, 2016
Published by Derek Dedman at January 29, 2016
Categories
The 2015 Federal Budget changed the rules governing registered retirement income funds, or RRIFs, to allow seniors to preserve their tax-sheltered assets for longer. These changes apply to all types of RRIFs, including Life Income Funds (LIFs) and other locked-in retirement accounts. The government lowered the RRIF minimum withdrawal percentages […]