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Monthly Archives: September 2025

Weekly Update for the week ending September 26, 2025

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How Government Moves Can Drive Companies
Big moves don’t always come from companies themselves – sometimes, it’s governments that shake up markets. This week, the US government stepped more directly into the race for critical resources, with lithium the latest focus. With demand for electric vehicles (EV) and clean energy storage rising, Washington is making moves to secure supply chains and reduce reliance on imports.

That push was front and centre with the Canadian company Lithium Americas (TSE: LAC). Shares surged in after-hours trading after reports that the US government is looking to renegotiate a $2.26B loan tied to its Thacker Pass project in Nevada. As part of the talks, Washington may seek up to a 10% stake in the company – a strong signal of just how strategic this project has become.

Weekly Update for the week ending September 19, 2025

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Decisions, Decisions
This week, all eyes were on the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of Canada (BoC) as both central banks faced the same question: should they finally ease up on high interest rates? With inflation cooling, jobless claims ticking higher, and consumers growing cautious, markets were betting heavily on cuts – and both banks delivered. For the Fed, it was the first cut since December 2024, while the BoC hadn’t lowered its benchmark rate since March 2025.

What Happens When Central Banks Cut Rates?

When central banks cut rates, it’s like turning down the interest on your credit card or mortgage – borrowing gets cheaper, and spending gets easier. But depending on whether it’s the BoC, the Fed, or both, the ripple effects for us investors can look a little different.

Weekly Update for the week ending September 12, 2025

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How Jobs and Prices Drive Rate Cuts
Recently the US labour market has been flashing signs of weakness, and this week’s revisions pushed job numbers even lower. That matters because the strength of the labour market often sets the tone for the economy – more jobs usually mean more spending, while slower job growth suggests things may be cooling. Against that backdrop, attention this past week turned to two key inflation reports: the Producer Price Index (PPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Monthly Portfolio Update August 2025

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August is usually a sleepy month for markets, with many professional investors off on holiday and trading volumes thin. But this year, the supposedly quiet stretch turned into another winning month. All four major indexes extended their streaks, with the Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq) chalking up its fifth consecutive monthly gain – up 1.6%, its longest run in nearly a year and a half. The S&P 500 (S&P) added 1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) climbed 3.2%, and the Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX) led the pack with a surge of 4.8%, its strongest showing of the summer. For the S&P and DJIA, it marked their longest streak since fall 2024.

The rally was less about confiden

Weekly Update for the week ending September 5, 2025

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September Slump: Will This Year Be Different?
September has a bit of a bad reputation on Wall Street. Historically, it’s the weakest month for stocks – a pattern often called the “September Effect.” Unlike other market drops tied to clear events, this is more of a seasonal trend. Some say investors pull back after the summer rally to lock in profits. Others point to mutual funds and big institutions rebalancing portfolios ahead of year-end, which adds selling pressure. Add in traders returning from summer holidays with a cautious outlook, and September has often leaned negative.

History has delivered some painful reminders. In 2008, during the financial crisis, the S&P 500 plunged nearly 9% in a single September. In 2001, the 9/11 attacks triggered a steep selloff. More recently, in 2022, the index slid almost 10% as rising interest rates rattled investors.

So, what could make this September another challenging month?