July was another milestone month for markets, powered by strong corporate earnings, growing artificial intelligence (AI) excitement, cautious central banks, and signs that both economies might be cooling. The Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX), S&P 500 Index (S&P), Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq) all surged to record highs mid-month, fueled by optimism on multiple fronts. But those gains didn’t fully stick – markets pulled back in the final stretch as fresh trade tensions and persistent inflation concerns crept back into the picture.
Tag: nvda
Weekly Update for the week ending July 18, 2025
Tariff Scorecard: Keeping Score in the Latest Wave of Tariffs
Tariffs are once again front and centre in investors’ minds. Since returning to office, President Trump has hit several major trading partners with new levies and rolled out a wave of new threats. The list is growing fast, with entire countries and key sectors in the crosshairs, making it tough to keep track of what’s actually in effect and what’s still just a warning shot.
So, here’s a quick recap.
Weekly Update for the week ending July 11, 2025
What’s BRICS, and Why Is It Back in the Headlines?
I first heard the term BRIC – referring to Brazil, Russia, India, and China – back in the late 1990s when I was researching high-growth mutual funds. The pitch was that these were fast-growing economies, and investing in a BRIC-focused fund would add a boost to a long-term portfolio. I ended up passing on the fund… and promptly forgot about BRIC.
Fast forward to today, and the term is back in the spotlight – this time with an “S” on the end, as South Africa officially joined the group in 2010. With BRICS now grabbing headlines again, I thought it was a good time to revisit what the group is and why it’s suddenly become a target of President Trump’s latest trade threats.
Weekly Update for the week ending July 4, 2025
When Good News Is Bad News (and Vice Versa)
This week brought a steady stream of US labour market data, and you might’ve noticed something that feels a little backwards: sometimes good news about jobs or the economy makes stocks fall, while disappointing news sends markets higher. At first, this can be hard to wrap your head around. After all, if more people are working and businesses are hiring, that should be a positive sign, right? But markets don’t just react to the data itself – they react to what that data means for interest rates and the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) next move.
Monthly Portfolio Update June 2025
Monthly Market and Portfolio Review
Markets kicked off June with a bang, dipped mid-month, then came roaring back to close with back-to-back gains. The Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX) rose 2.6%, the S&P 500 (S&P) jumped 5.0%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq) surged 6.6%, with all three hitting record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) advanced 4.3%, flirting with its own all-time peak.
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.