In a widely expected move, the Bank of Canada raised its key lending rate, which directly impacts interest rates, by 25 basis points, to 2.50%. This marks the first change in its interest rate policy in a year and the first increase since July 2023. The war in Iran and other geopolitical tensions, which have […]
22
Oct
Oct
Canada’s annual pace of inflation increased to 3.1% in September, up from 3% in August. Canada’s inflation rate was in line with analysts’ predictions of 3.1%. The increase in inflation was largely due to higher energy prices because of the Iran and Russia/Ukraine wars. Gasoline prices increased 27.8% on an annual basis in September, after […]
16
Oct
Oct
Despite a global trade war, stubbornly high inflation, rising interest rates, concerns about the global economy, a war in the Middle East, and high energy prices, the S&P 500 is having a great year. In fact, it’s at record levels. The S&P 500 Hit Record Levels The S&P 500 last hit a record high of […]
08
Oct
Oct
The U.S. is the world’s largest economy; however, cracks are beginning to appear. Typically, that would be bad news for the stock market, but right now, weak U.S. economic data is a positive for Wall Street. At least for the time being. The U.S. economy added just 29,000 jobs in September—far less than the 133,000 […]
30
Sep
Sep
The TSX, Canada’s main stock index, remains near record highs even as the Canadian economy shows signs of stalling. The longer-term outlook for the TSX remains bullish. The Canadian economy, on the other hand, will take some time to heat up. First, the TSX hit a fresh record high of 37,069.69 back on August 26, […]
24
Sep
Sep
The U.S. Federal Reserve increased its benchmark interest rate on September 16 for the first time in three years. The central bank raised interest rates by a quarter point to a target range of 3.75% to 4.0%. The higher interest rates are expected to result in higher borrowing costs for mortgages, credit cards, and auto […]
17
Sep
Sep
Canada’s inflation rate remained unchanged in August, but a sharp increase in energy prices in September could put renewed pressure on consumers and the economy. With crude oil, gasoline and diesel prices all climbing, Canadians could soon feel the impact through higher transportation and everyday costs. The increase in energy prices could also make it […]
09
Sep
Sep
The Bank of Canada has kept interest rates unchanged, but investors are increasingly betting that the era of rate cuts is over. With inflation sitting around three percent, crude oil prices elevated by the war in the Middle East and renewed tariffs adding to economic uncertainty, markets are now pricing in the possibility of multiple […]
29
Jul
Jul
Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, trade tensions, and concerns about future interest rate decisions, North American equity markets continue to show remarkable resilience. A major reason for that strength is corporate earnings, with companies once again expected to deliver impressive second-quarter results. The U.S. economy is dealing with an unprecedented tariff war, the war in Iran […]
22
Jul
Jul
After a period of economic weakness, Canada’s economy is showing signs of renewed growth. At the same time, inflation remains a concern, particularly as rising energy prices could put renewed pressure on consumer prices. These factors will influence the Bank of Canada’s approach to interest rates as it assesses whether the economic recovery will continue […]
