January was a comeback month for the markets, with all four major North American indexes finishing in the green and getting back in the win column. The rally was fueled by strong earnings, solid economic data, and the Fed’s decision to keep interest rates steady. Excitement around AI also played a big role, pushing technology stocks higher—at least for most of the month. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Tag: PINS
Weekly Update for the week ending January 10, 2025
Kicking Off 2025 After wrapping up a disappointing December and saying goodbye to 2024, it’s a great time to look ahead to 2025 with fresh optimism. January is when many of us take stock (pun intended 😉) of our portfolios, set new financial goals, and strategize for the year to come (OK, maybe not too […]
Weekly Update for the week ending August 2, 2024
This past week, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) announced that it would keep the benchmark interest rate at 5.5%, a move that was widely expected. However, the Fed also hinted at the possibility of a rate cut in September, as inflation cools and the labour market shows signs of slowing. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) unanimously agreed to maintain the federal funds rate in the 5.25% to 5.5% range, where it has been for the past year.
Weekly Update for the week ending May 3, 2024
This past week, the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) convened to set monetary policy, most notably the US benchmark interest rate. These decisions have a profound influence on investors in both Canada and the United States. Generally, lower interest rates can lead to higher stock prices and a calmer market environment, and happier investors 😊. Conversely, higher rates can introduce volatility and encourage a shift towards more conservative investments.
Beyond investor sentiment, the FOMC’s decisions on the US benchmark interest rate can significantly influence the actions of the Bank of Canada (BoC) with regards to Canada’s interest rate. The relationship between these rates is critical because a substantial difference can have several repercussions on the Canadian economy.
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Weekly Update for the week ending April 28, 2023
Canadian Economic data, US Economic data, First Quarter Earnings Season, What is the Consumer Confidence Index? …
The week ending June 17, 2022
You would think a combination of a surging economy, low unemployment, strong corporate earnings, and people with money in their pockets would be enough to calm an unnerved market. You would be wrong! Inflation and the fight to drive inflation back to the desired 2% – 3% level continues to send the markets into a tailspin. […]