Skip to main content

Tag: shop

Weekly Update for the week ending December 5, 2025

Posted on by

Will Santa Show Up for the Markets This Year?
Typically, September and October are considered two of the softer months for the markets, while November and December are traditionally stronger. This year has been the opposite, with a surprisingly solid September and October. By the end of October, I was feeling optimistic – with two of the more volatile months in the rear-view mirror, a strong finish to the year seemed likely. Unfortunately, that optimism didn’t pan out, as November came in weaker than usual and barely avoided slipping into the red.

Now December is here, and I’m not sure what to expect. December is usually a strong month for stocks, thanks to what’s known as the Santa Claus Rally. But some analysts are suggesting we may not see Santa’s visit this time around, which got me wondering why a month that’s typically upbeat might fall short. So why do analysts think Santa may sit this year out? Let’s take a brief look – but first, what makes December a strong month?

Monthly Portfolio Update November 2025

Posted on by

Monthly Portfolio Update November 2025
November didn’t feel like a typically strong month for the markets, even though most major indexes still finished in the green. After such a strong run over the past six months — including a stronger than expected September and October — I had expected that momentum to carry right into year-end. Instead of the strong month I’d been expecting, the markets were quite volatile in November, a month that normally gives investors a smoother ride.

Weekly Update for the week ending November 28, 2025

Posted on by

The TSX: From Trading Club to Major Market
A few weeks ago, while writing the weekly portfolio update, I came across a stock I assumed was on the Toronto Stock Exchange, only to discover it was actually on the TSX Venture Exchange. Then I saw another company I thought was a Venture listing but was actually on the main TSX. That mix-up sent me down a rabbit hole about how the Exchange works and its history. I found the story surprisingly interesting, and this week I thought I’d share some of that history behind Canada’s largest stock market – the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

Weekly Update for the week ending November 14, 2025

Posted on by

The US Government Reopens – What It Means for Investors
The US government had been shut down since October 1 and finally re-opened on November 13. In my October 1 Weekly Update, [link to oct 1] I talked about what caused the shutdown and what the likely impacts might be from an investing perspective. Now that it’s over, it’s a good time to look at what ended the standoff — and what it means for us as investors.

Weekly Update for the week ending November 7, 2025

Posted on by

The Budget Is Here – Now What for Long-Term Investors?
This week, the Canadian government released its latest federal budget – essentially Ottawa’s financial game plan for the year ahead. Budgets can feel like giant spreadsheets, but at their core they show what the government wants to prioritize and where the money is going. This one focuses on boosting affordability (especially housing), supporting economic growth, and continuing to invest in clean energy and infrastructure. In the words of Daenerys Targaryen, “Let’s begin.” 😊

Monthly Portfolio Update October 2025

Posted on by

For the sixth month in a row, all four major North American indexes finished in the green: the Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX), the S&P 500 Index (S&P), the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq). The Nasdaq continued to lead the pack, rising more than 4% for the second straight month and marking its seventh monthly gain in a row – its longest stretch since early 2018. The TSX, S&P, and DJIA each posted their sixth straight monthly gain, with the DJIA’s streak being its longest since January 2018, the TSX’s longest since mid-2021, and the S&P’s longest since late 2021.