This week, we resume our ‘Tips for Those New to Investing’ series and take a look at how rising interest rates can shake up your stock portfolio. What Rising Interest Rates Mean for Your Portfolio Interest rates might seem like background noise, but they can have a big impact on your investments. When central banks, […]
Tag: BNS
Weekly Update for the week ending July 12, 2024
Mr. Powell goes to Washington In a week of high anticipation, US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell took center stage in Congress, providing crucial updates on the future of rate cuts. During his Senate testimony on Tuesday, Powell expressed optimism as inflation approached the Fed’s 2% target, signaling potential for future rate cuts. He […]
Weekly Update for the week ending June 21, 2024
Since I have been doing this investing blog, I have often read of various central banks’ target of a 2% rate of inflation. This is the figure that the Bank of Canada, the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and other central banks often site. It got me to wondering why 2%? Was it arbitrary […]
Weekly Update for the week ending May 3, 2024
This past week, the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) convened to set monetary policy, most notably the US benchmark interest rate. These decisions have a profound influence on investors in both Canada and the United States. Generally, lower interest rates can lead to higher stock prices and a calmer market environment, and happier investors 😊. Conversely, higher rates can introduce volatility and encourage a shift towards more conservative investments.
Beyond investor sentiment, the FOMC’s decisions on the US benchmark interest rate can significantly influence the actions of the Bank of Canada (BoC) with regards to Canada’s interest rate. The relationship between these rates is critical because a substantial difference can have several repercussions on the Canadian economy.
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Weekly Update for the week ending February 16, 2024
The past six months have been a rollercoaster ride for investors as expectations regarding the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate policy shifted gears. Initially, investors and analysts were talking about the Fed maintaining the rate at 5.5% for a while, only to switch towards discussions of potential rate cuts early in 2024. However, recent inflation […]
Weekly Update for the week ending February 2, 2024
Another week brings us to yet another set of all-time highs for the S&P and DJIA! Despite a mid-week dip caused by the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep US interest rates steady, and caution it was unlikely the rate would go down in March, these indexes rebounded to set new records. The Nasdaq followed suit, closing the week at its highest point in two years. Unfortunately, the TSX didn’t share in the fortune, closing the week on a less positive note. ☹