Skip to main content

Tag: WMT

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?

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 21, 2025

Posted on by

Nvidia Saves the Day
Heading into this week, investors were nervous. Many were worried about a possible artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and that valuations for leading AI and technology companies had gotten overheated. All eyes were on the star of the emerging AI industry — Nvidia (NASD: NVDA). Would the company beat, meet, or miss its revenue targets? And perhaps just as important, what did it expect for the next quarter?

Nvidia isn’t just another technology company, it’s the engine behind the AI boom and, at times, the most valuable company on the planet. Its chips power everything from ChatGPT-style AI to self-driving cars to the massive datacentres that keep the digital world running. When Nvidia reports earnings, markets pay attention because it often sets the tone for the entire technology sector.

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.

Weekly Update for the week ending October 17, 2025

Posted on by

Trade Tensions Flare, Again
Since President Trump returned to office in January, his administration has been trying to reshape global trade in America’s favour. One of his earliest targets was China, the world’s second largest economy, trailing only the US. Since both sides have recently began ratcheting up the trade tension again, with new tariffs, export controls, and tit-for-tat sanctions making headlines, I thought it would be a good time to review the situation and what it could mean for investors everywhere – including here in Canada.

Weekly Update for the week ending April 11, 2025

Posted on by

The sell-off at the start of the week wiped out the past 12 months of gains, with stocks edging closer to bear market territory. Since the previous Thursday, US markets saw their steepest three-day decline since 1987 – and before that, not since World War II. Meanwhile, Canada’s TSX Composite Index (TSX) experienced its sharpest drop since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, though, the damage was self-inflicted—and, frankly, far from fun. ☹