Sell America
Markets don’t always move because the economy changes – sometimes they move because confidence does. This week, that loss of confidence showed up in a phrase many investors hadn’t heard in a while: “Sell America.” And it returned with a vengeance.
But what is “Sell America”?
Under Pressure: Fed Independence Under Fire
With apologies to Queen and David Bowie, the US government has turned up the pressure on the US Federal Reserve, and on Chair Jerome Powell in particular, to fall in line with President Trump’s push for lower interest rates. For investors, the question isn’t politics – it’s how this could rattle markets and shake confidence in US interest rates.
2026 Says “Hello”
Welcome to 2026 – and to the first Weekly Update of the year. A new year always brings a fresh sense of optimism for us investors, and after the bull market of the past couple of years, the hope is that the bull still has plenty of life in it. As always, there will be noise along the way, but the backdrop heading into 2026 gives investors a few reasons to stay cautiously optimistic.
Monthly Portfolio Update December 2025
The markets weren’t quite as strong as I’d hoped as December. The more traditional, value oriented Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) both extended their monthly winning streaks. For the TSX it was the longest monthly winning streak since 2014, and it was the longest streak since 2017 for the DJIA, impressive runs when you step back.
December’s market action largely came down to two forces: where interest rates are headed and where investors chose to take profits after a very strong year for big technology companies once again.
Merry Christmas!
This marks the final Weekly Update of 2025 – and somehow, another year has flown by while markets did what they do best: surprise, frustrate, and occasionally reward us patient investors. 😊 I’ll be taking a short break over the holidays, but the Weekly Update will be back in early January to kick off 2026.
From Wild West to Launchpad: The Story of the TSXV
A few weeks ago, I took a look at the history of Canada’s premier stock market – the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) [link to Nov. 28]. Also known as the big board, it’s the top rung on the TSX ladder. I also mentioned its junior counterpart, the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). This week, I thought I’d follow up with a closer look at this often overlooked but essential part of Canada’s market ecosystem. So, without further ado, in the words of Daenerys Stormborn – “Let’s begin.”