For the past few weeks, I’ve been talking about tariffs – what they are, how they affect consumers, and how they affect the Canadian dollar. But tariffs rarely happen in isolation. When one country imposes them, the other often fires back with its own set of retaliatory tariffs. With this week’s announcement of sweeping US tariffs on imports from almost all trading partners, it’s the perfect time to discuss the next round of the trade war: counter tariffs.
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Weekly Update for the week ending March 28, 2025
Economists and analysts have been bringing up the word ‘stagflation’ lately – and that’s not a good thing. It’s an economic scenario no one wants, where growth stalls while prices keep rising. The term might sound complicated but understanding it now can help you avoid surprises later. So this week, I thought I’d go over what stagflation is and explain it in a way that’s easy to understand.
What is Stagflation?
Imagine you’re driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic – moving painfully slow – but at the same time, your car’s engine is overheating. That’s basically stagflation in economic terms: the economy isn’t growing much (or at all), but prices keep rising. Normally, inflation happens when the economy is booming, and a slowdown helps cool things down. But stagflation flips the script, combining slow growth with rising costs – something that can leave consumers squeezed and businesses struggling.
Weekly Update for the week ending March 21, 2025
How Tariff Wars Are Impacting the Canadian Dollar—And What It Means for Us
With all the talk about tariffs and their effect on the Canadian and US economies, I started wondering – what do these trade battles mean for the already weak Canadian dollar? My first thought? It can’t be good. But that made me realize I wasn’t entirely sure how tariffs influence our currency or what that means for us as consumers, businesses, and investors. As Daenerys Targaryen would say, “Let’s begin!”
Weekly Update for the week ending February 21, 2025
Last week, I talked about sector diversification and how it helps reduce risk in your portfolio. This week, I want to build on that by introducing sector rotation – a strategy some investors use to try and stay ahead of market trends. But before we dive in, if you’re new to investing, sector rotation might […]
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.
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.