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Monthly Portfolio Update October 2025

For the sixth month in a row, all four major North American indexes finished in the green: the Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX), the S&P 500 Index (S&P), the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq). The Nasdaq continued to lead the pack, rising more than 4% for the second straight month and marking its seventh monthly gain in a row – its longest stretch since early 2018. The TSX, S&P, and DJIA each posted their sixth straight monthly gain, with the DJIA’s streak being its longest since January 2018, the TSX’s longest since mid-2021, and the S&P’s longest since late 2021.

Weekly Update for the week ending October 10, 2025

Will October be Trick or Treat for Investors?
After an unusually strong September, we’re stepping into the witching month – a time with a well-earned reputation for market drama. October has long carried a spooky aura on Wall Street, and for good reason. It’s seen some of the biggest market crashes in history. The Great Crash of 1929 kicked off the Great Depression after years of speculation and margin buying came undone, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) tumbling nearly 90% from its peak and taking 25 years to fully recover. In 1987, “Black Monday” struck when computer-driven trading and panic selling triggered a record one-day drop of 22.6%, though markets managed to rebound within two years. It remains one of the worst single-day declines in Canadian market history. And in 2008, the collapse of the American housing market and the global credit freeze sent the S&P 500 (S&P) plunging 57% and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) dropped about 16%, with a full recovery taking about four years.

Yet despite those infamous moments, October isn’t the market villain it’s often made out to be.

Weekly Update for the week ending June 20, 2025

When Giants Talk Trade, Canada Feels the Impact

Last week, I discussed the build-up to the China – US trade war and what each side is hoping to get from a deal. After tensions flared this spring, complete with sweeping tariffs and tech restrictions that rattled global markets, the two countries agreed to a temporary truce and resumed negotiations. There’s now a draft framework deal on the table, but it’s more of a ceasefire than a peace treaty. Still, even a partial deal could shift the global economic outlook – and that matters a lot to Canada.

Weekly Update for the week ending February 7, 2025

With tariffs dominating the news the last few weeks, I thought it’d be a good time to talk about how they impact us as consumers and investors.

What Are Tariffs?
Tariffs are essentially taxes on imported goods, meant to regulate trade and protect domestic industries. In this case, President Trump is using them as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations. By making foreign products more expensive, tariffs can push consumers toward locally made goods, but they often come with unintended consequences.

Weekly Update for the week ending November 29, 2024

How Global Events Affect Your Portfolio: A Beginner’s Guide

If you are new to investing, you might assume your portfolio – especially if it is packed with Canadian or American stocks—is safely tucked away from global drama. But the truth is, events like geopolitical tensions or economic slowdowns often send ripples through the markets, and your investments can feel the effects. Let us take a look into how these international factors influence your portfolio and how you can navigate them.