The Global Investment Outlook

Economic data has been resilient, recession risks have diminished, and inflation has cooled sufficiently for central banks to consider cutting policy rates at some point this year. In this environment, sovereign bonds are appealing, and while stocks have surged as investors embraced the improved odds of an economic soft landing, demanding valuations in U.S. large-cap stocks may limit upside potential.

This Global Investment Outlook includes:

  • The recommended mix of cash, fixed income instruments, and equities.
  • The recommended global exposure of fixed income and equity portfolios.
  • The optimal term structure for fixed income investments.
  • The suggested sector and geographic make-up within equity portfolios.
  • The preferred exposure to major currencies.

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Inflation keeps on slowing in Canada in July

Inflation keeps on slowing in Canada in July

August 20, 2024 |Claire Fan and Abbey Xu

The 2.5% reading is the lowest since March 2021.

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Bank of Canada follows up with a second rate cut of 2024

Bank of Canada follows up with a second rate cut of 2024

July 24, 2024 |Claire Fan

After a first interest rate cut in June, the Bank of Canada (BoC) again lowered its key overnight rate by 25 basis points at its meeting Wednesday, to 4.5%. The move was in line with market and our own expectations ahead of the announcement.

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RBC Canadian Inflation Watch

Slowing inflation in June sets the table for a July rate cut from Bank of Canada

July 16, 2024 |Claire Fan and Abbey Xu

The latest Business Outlook Survey largely confirmed further normalizing in a few key areas that the central bank has deemed critical to future inflation trends.

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Bank of Canada set to make the first interest rate cut of easing cycle

June 04, 2024 |Nathan Janzen and Claire Fan
Evidence has continued to build that the current high level of interest rates is no longer needed. All ducks appear to be in a row for the Bank of Canada (BoC) to kick-start the policy easing cycle and lower the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4...
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Proof Point: A weaker Canadian dollar won’t necessarily derail BoC interest rate cuts

Proof Point: A weaker Canadian dollar won’t necessarily derail BoC interest rate cuts

May 01, 2024 |Nathan Janzen and Claire Fan
Proof point: The timing and magnitude of interest rate cuts from the Bank of Canada will be determined by domestic economic and inflation conditions and not the gap in monetary policy with the U.S. Federal Reserve or the value of the Canadian dollar....
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Federal budget 2024: Key measures that may have a direct impact on you

Federal budget 2024: Key measures that may have a direct impact on you

April 17, 2024 |RBC Family Office Services

We analyze the proposed federal budget measures, and the effect they may have on Canadians and their families.

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How lowering the number of non-permanent residents will impact Canada’s economy

How lowering the number of non-permanent residents will impact Canada’s economy

April 05, 2024 |Nathan Janzen
Federal government efforts to limit non-permanent resident arrivals will likely slow the pace of gross domestic product growth in 2025 and beyond. However, per-capita GDP, the unemployment rate, broader inflation pressures, and interest rate expectations...
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BoC holds rates steady in March

BoC holds rates steady in March

March 07, 2024 |Claire Fan, Economist, Royal Bank of Canada

The Bank of Canada (BoC) held the overnight rate unchanged for a fifth consecutive meeting, extending a pause that started after the last hike in July last year. 

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Proof Point: Weak productivity is threatening Canada’s post-pandemic wage growth

February 28, 2024 |Nathan Janzen
Canadian wage growth has been unusually high, but looks more modest when measured against surging inflation and relative to acute labour shortages earlier in the pandemic recovery. Now lagging productivity in Canada (along with a softening labour market...
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End of the correction? Canada’s housing market is warming up

End of the correction? Canada’s housing market is warming up

February 14, 2024 |Robert Hogue
It may be the unusually mild weather or the modest drop in fixed mortgage rates since November—or both—but Canadian house hunters have more energy this winter. Importantly, they’re landing more deals. Home resales in Canada increased for the second month...
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