Thoughts on the Market

Relativity and Investing

Relativity and Investing

December 3, 2024 - Maddy Bodden

Leonard Susskind, the noted theoretical physicist, famously quoted that Einstein proved that different observers, in different states of motion, see different realities. The markets are constantly in motion. Whether it is earnings, news, rumors, or just normal daily activity, every stock is reacting both to its own forces and in relation to the overall direction of the market. How any of those data points are perceived by the market is dependent on the intentions of the observer.

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The Alignment of the Stars

October 21, 2024 - Maddy Bodden

In the children’s fantasy novel, Peter Pan, these are the directions to Neverland, home of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. With investing, it is often difficult to know which star to follow as the investment horizon is ever changing, and never totally clear. In recent months, market focus has shifted among inflation, interest rates, corporate earnings, and even politics. All these items can have a profound effect on markets that must be carefully navigated. This month, we will review these points to determine the best investment path forward.

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The Little Things

The Little Things

August 23, 2024 - Maddy Bodden

Details. Details. In the investment world, as long as the market is moving higher, data points that are deemed irrelevant are ignored until they become relevant. On August 5, we saw a large sell off in US equities after a 12% decline in Japan’s Nikkei stock index, all triggered by a rise in the yen after the Bank of Japan increased their interest rate from 0.1% to 0.25%. How does such a little thing as a 0.15% Japanese rate increase send the US market into a tailspin?

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RBC Insights

Debunking debt disaster

Debunking debt disaster

October 04, 2024 |Atul Bhatia, CFA

Myths may be important to folklore, but they’re not helpful in finance. We look at the facts behind some of the common myths surrounding the U.S. national debt.

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The price of Fed rate cut success is steep, but not too steep

The price of Fed rate cut success is steep, but not too steep

October 02, 2024 |Thomas Garretson, CFA

The Fed has finally aggressively lowered interest rates. While a steeper yield curve reflects the market’s optimism that rate cuts will shore up the economic outlook, further steepness could be a sign the Fed will cut rates deeply, likely due to a re

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The Fed’s big bang rate cut

The Fed’s big bang rate cut

September 20, 2024 |Thomas Garretson, CFA

After biding its time, the Fed kicked off its monetary easing cycle with a strong start out of the rate cut gates. While investors may harbor concerns the Fed is getting ahead of itself, we highlight why we’re encouraged by the Fed’s proactive move.

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No free rein: The realities of U.S. presidential power

August 27, 2024 |Kelly Bogdanova

While the U.S. president certainly has great influence, the formal and informal checks and balances built into the government’s structure still matter, and investors shouldn’t let election noise get in the way of sound portfolio management.

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Stock market selloff: A “growth scare,” or more?

Stock market selloff: A “growth scare,” or more?

August 06, 2024 |Kelly Bogdanova

Pressure points in the economy and markets were triggered, sweeping up equities into a global selloff. We look at the market’s supporting factors and how investors should tilt equity exposure in portfolios.

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The Fed waits, but is it too late?

The Fed waits, but is it too late?

August 02, 2024 |Thomas Garretson, CFA

As expected, the Fed held off on a rate cut this week. But as policymakers await more economic data before a likely September rate cut, the data may already be signaling the central bank is too late.

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What dueling data and the Fed’s dual mandate mean for interest rate cuts

What dueling data and the Fed’s dual mandate mean for interest rate cuts

July 25, 2024 |Atul Bhatia, CFA

Relative comfort on inflation should allow the Fed to shift its focus to the goal of full employment. But with labor market data pointing in different directions, we sift through the mixed messages and the impact on the Fed’s rate cut plans.

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Inside the S&P 500: Time to pass the baton?

July 19, 2024 |Kelly Bogdanova

While mega-cap tech stocks have dominated U.S. equity performance so far this year, recently the rest of the market has been trying to take the baton. We discuss the main factors needed to make a clean handoff.

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Weaving the threads of U.S. equity outperformance

Weaving the threads of U.S. equity outperformance

July 11, 2024 |Ben Graham, CFA

While AI and the Magnificent 7 have been exceedingly visible in their leadership, we spotlight two other trends with a clear impact on portfolio performance and how to approach U.S. equities as the economic environment inevitably evolves.

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Video: Three reasons Canadian investors should care about U.S. debt

Video: Three reasons Canadian investors should care about U.S. debt

July 03, 2024 |RBC Wealth Management

Find out three ways U.S. debt can affect Canada.

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