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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.

Weekly Update for the week ending September 20, 2024

Connecting the Dots II: US Economic Data and Fed Policy
Last week, I talked about how Canadian economic reports connect [link to sept. 13] and impact Bank of Canada (BoC) decisions, which in turn affect investors. This week, I will dive into the American economic reports, exploring how the US Federal Reserve (Fed) uses data to shape interest rates, and what that means for us Canadian investors.

Weekly Update for the week ending September 6, 2024

September has a long-standing reputation for being one of the worst and most turbulent months for the markets, often marked by increased volatility. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “September Effect.” This year appears to be no exception as investors try to gauge the Federal Reserve’s next moves based on the latest economic data. Historically, it has been the worst-performing month for the indexes. In fact, from 1950 to 2023, the S&P 500 (S&P) averaged a decline of about 0.5% in September, making it one of the few months where the index consistently posts negative returns.

Weekly Update for the week ending August 30, 2024

Since 2019, Nvidia’s (NASD: NVDA) share price has soared 3,476%, thanks to its pivotal role in supplying the heart of artificial intelligence (AI). Few companies wield as much market influence as Nvidia, and anticipation was sky-high leading up to its earnings release. Investors were on edge, eager to see whether Nvidia would meet or surpass expectations.

Weekly Update for the week ending August 23, 2024

Inflation and pricing

It was a relatively quiet week for the markets in terms of economic news. In the USA, investors focused on the mid-week release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) last Federal Open Market Committee meeting and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, at the end of the week. These two events are crucial in indicating whether the Fed plans to lower the US benchmark rate at their September meeting.

In Canada, the biggest economic headline was the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report, which reveals whether inflation is rising or falling. Spoiler alert: it is still falling. 😊 But here is an important point—just because inflation is down does not mean prices are lower. It only means that the pace of price increases has slowed.

Weekly Update for the week ending August 2, 2024

This past week, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) announced that it would keep the benchmark interest rate at 5.5%, a move that was widely expected. However, the Fed also hinted at the possibility of a rate cut in September, as inflation cools and the labour market shows signs of slowing. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) unanimously agreed to maintain the federal funds rate in the 5.25% to 5.5% range, where it has been for the past year.