After a volatile July, the US markets got off to a positive start in August, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) setting a record closing high on the first trading day. It would set two more records during the month, while the S&P 500 Index (S&P) established three of its own. The Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq), despite being the top-performing index in August, remained below its June record. The Canadian market joined in, with the Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX) setting four new record closing highs before ending the month just below its peak. Better yet, all three of my portfolios also finished the month higher than they started! š
Tag: nssc
Weekly Update for the week ending August 7, 2026
The AI Revolution: Understanding the Technology Behind the Investment Boom
Artificial intelligence (AI) may seem like software running in the cloud, but behind every AI-generated response is a vast physical infrastructure. From Nvidia’s powerful AI chips to advanced memory, high-speed networking, massive data centres, and enormous amounts of electricity, today’s AI systems depend on some of the most sophisticated technology ever built.
In Part 3 of The AI Revolution: Understanding the Technology Behind the Investment Boom, we explore the infrastructure that makes AI possible and explain why companies across multiple industriesānot just technology firmsāare benefiting from the AI revolution.
Monthly Portfolio Update March 2026
If February was driven by fears around artificial intelligence (AI) spending and disruption, March marked a sharp shift to geopolitics ā and the ripple effects that followed. The month started on a positive note but quickly turned lower after the US/Israel strikes on Iran, a development that changed the tone almost overnight.
Weekly Update for the week ending March 13, 2026
If the Conflict Stays Short, These Sectors Could Move Most
Last week [link to Mar 6] I looked at the recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran from an investorās perspective. The situation is still evolving, but one of the key questions for markets is how long the conflict might last. If the fighting remains relatively short ā perhaps four to five weeks ā history suggests the economic impact would likely be uneven rather than universally negative.
Geopolitical shocks tend to push markets into a brief ārisk-offā phase where investors shift away from more cyclical or economically sensitive sectors and toward industries that benefit directly from higher energy prices or global uncertainty. The result is often a temporary reshuffling of winners and losers across sectors rather than a lasting change to the overall economic outlook. This week, Iāll discuss how a four-to-five week conflict could impact three of the key sectors that move the markets in Canada, as well as three that drive the US market.
Weekly Update for the week ending March 6, 2026
Oil Surges, Volatility Returns
In February, artificial intelligence (AI) optimism and anxiety were the main winds that buffeted the markets (and buffet they did š). But as the month closed, a very different storm rolled in. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply, shifting investor focus from AI concerns and earnings reports to energy supply and global stability.
Weekly Update for the week ending February 27, 2026
Trade Uncertainty Returns
Last week, the United States Supreme Court ruled that many of President Trumpās global tariffs were illegal. Within days, the White House announced a new 10% tariff on imports from all countries, with plans to raise it to 15%.
Let’s take a look at how we got here ā and the uncertainty it has created.