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: xgd
Weekly Update for the week ending August 21, 2026
The AI Revolution: Understanding the Technology Behind the Investment Boom
AI is capable of far more than answering questions in a chatbot. It can analyse financial information, understand images, create content, solve complex problems, and increasingly take actions on our behalf. In Part 5 of The AI Revolution, we explore what these capabilities look like in the real world ā from AI-assisted investment research to cybersecurity systems that can detect and respond to threats ā and why these capabilities could create enormous economic value.
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.
Weekly Update for the week ending May 8, 2026
Earnings season is giving investors a fresh look under the hood of the companies driving the markets. With roughly 20 holdings across my three portfolios reporting results this past week alone, the focus has shifted from headlines to fundamentals. Strong reports from major technology companies like NASD:AAPL continue lifting both individual stocks and the broader market, while weaker guidance can quickly shift sentiment the other way. This weekās commentary looks at what earnings reports really tell investors, what I focus on when analyzing them, and how the latest results helped shape the markets this week.
Weekly Update for the week ending March 20, 2026
Stagflation: What It Is and Why Markets Are Paying Attention Right Now
The last few weeks, Iāve been seeing the term āstagflationā pop up more and more to describe the situation Canada ā and to a lesser extent the US ā may find themselves in over the coming months. At a basic level, inflation is when the overall cost of living rises over time, meaning your money doesnāt go as far as it used to. Most central banks, including the Bank of Canada (BoC) and the Federal Reserve (Fed), aim for around 2% inflation per year, which is considered healthy for a growing economy. A recession, on the other hand, is when economic activity slows down ā businesses earn less, hiring weakens, and unemployment begins to rise. But what exactly is stagflation? This week, I thought Iād take a closer look.
Weekly Update for the week ending January 23, 2026
Sell America
Markets donāt always move because the economy changes ā sometimes they move because confidence does. This week, that loss of confidence showed up in a phrase many investors hadnāt heard in a while: āSell America.ā And it returned with a vengeance.
But what is “Sell America”?