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Weekly Update for the week ending July 4, 2025

When Good News Is Bad News (and Vice Versa)

This week brought a steady stream of US labour market data, and you might’ve noticed something that feels a little backwards: sometimes good news about jobs or the economy makes stocks fall, while disappointing news sends markets higher. At first, this can be hard to wrap your head around. After all, if more people are working and businesses are hiring, that should be a positive sign, right? But markets don’t just react to the data itself – they react to what that data means for interest rates and the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) next move.

Weekly Update for the week ending April 25, 2025

US markets took another body blow at the start of this past week, once again set off by a tweet from President Trump. He renewed his public attacks on Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell, calling him a “major loser” and demanding immediate rate cuts to juice the economy. Trump even floated the idea of firing Powell – a move that, while legally difficult, has rattled investor confidence.

Weekly Update for the week ending April 11, 2025

The sell-off at the start of the week wiped out the past 12 months of gains, with stocks edging closer to bear market territory. Since the previous Thursday, US markets saw their steepest three-day decline since 1987 – and before that, not since World War II. Meanwhile, Canada’s TSX Composite Index (TSX) experienced its sharpest drop since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, though, the damage was self-inflicted—and, frankly, far from fun. ☹

Weekly Update for the week ending March 7, 2025

With the US implementing tariffs on Canada and Mexico this past week – and Canada immediately retaliating, while Mexico held off implementing tariffs for now (as of the time of this post) – I wanted to dig deeper into how tariffs actually work. Beyond just driving up prices, tariffs play a significant role in trade and investing. So, what exactly are tariffs? Let’s take a look.

Weekly Update for the week ending February 14, 2025

When it comes to investing, putting all your money into one industry is like relying on a single star player to carry your hockey team. Sure, they might put up big numbers in some games, but if they hit a slump, run into tough opponent or get injured, your team (or portfolio) could struggle. That’s where sector diversification comes in. Just like a championship team needs a mix of scorers, grinders, defenders, and a rock-solid goalie, a strong portfolio benefits from investments across multiple sectors. This strategy helps balance risk and improve long-term performance, no matter what the markets throw your way. Let’s take a closer look.

Weekly Update for the week ending October 11, 2024

Last week, I touched on why October has a bit of a reputation as a volatile month in the markets—historical crashes, rapid recoveries, and plenty of unpredictability. So, what should you expect for your portfolio this October? Let us take a look.

First off, volatility does not necessarily mean disaster. In fact, it can create opportunities, especially for long-term investors. If you see sharp drops in certain stocks or sectors, it could be a chance to add to your positions or get into new ones at discounted prices. But timing the market is tricky—so keep your long-term goals in mind (you have set some long-term goals, right?) rather than reacting emotionally to short-term swings.