A Little Less Tension on the Trade Front
Global trade tensions eased a bit this week after US President Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping met face-to-face in Busan ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Trump did not attend the full leaders’ summit, but the bilateral meeting between the two leaders was the main focus for markets anyway. Going in, Trump described it as a “G2” meeting – a nod to the reality that these are the world’s two largest economies and when they talk, everyone else feels the impact.
Tag: hps.a
Weekly Update for the week ending October 24, 2025
Rare Earths: Tiny Metals, Massive Impact, Major Contention
Last week [link to oct 17], we talked about trade tensions between China and the US – the world’s two largest economies. One key flashpoint in those talks is rare earth elements. Rare earths might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but they’re actually critical to everything from your smartphone to fighter jets – and they’re at the centre of the China- US trade debate.
Weekly Update for the week ending November 22, 2024
What Falling Interest Rates Mean for Your Portfolio
Last week, we explored how rising interest rates can challenge investors. This week, let us flip the script and talk about something that could actually work in your favour—falling rates. When interest rates drop, it is not just borrowers who feel the relief. If you know where to look, your stock portfolio can benefit too.
Why Do Central Banks Lower Interest Rates?
Central banks, like the Bank of Canada (BoC) or the US Federal Reserve (Fed), lower interest rates to stimulate a sluggish economy. Cheaper borrowing encourages spending and investment, helping businesses expand, creating jobs, and keeping inflation in check. Think of it as their way of giving the economy a boost when growth hits a wall.
Weekly Update for the week ending October 4, 2024
October: A Month of Market Mayhem or Opportunities?
September may be notorious for its volatility, but October is when the real drama unfolds in the markets. October has witnessed some of the stock market’s most jaw-dropping crashes, earning its reputation for volatility. One of the earliest examples was the Panic of 1907, which peaked in October, wiping out about 50% of the market’s value due to a banking crisis sparked by failed speculation. Then there’s Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, a date forever linked to the crash that ushered in the Great Depression. Preceded by Black Thursday (October 24) and Black Monday (October 28), this period erased massive wealth and sent shockwaves across the global economy. Fast forward to October 19, 1987—Black Monday—when the Dow Jones nosedived 22.6% in a single day, the largest one-day percentage drop in US history. Fueled by program trading, overvalued stocks, and low liquidity, this crash triggered investor panic.
However, October is also known for remarkable recoveries. After the 1987 crash, the markets began to recover within months, regaining most losses by year-end. Similarly, October 2002 signaled the bottom of the bear market that followed the dot-com bubble burst, paving the way for a bull run that lasted until October 2007, during which the S&P 500 more than doubled, driven by economic recovery, low interest rates, and strong corporate earnings. While October is notorious for downturns, it also marks key turning points toward recovery.
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.