The BIG Picture

China’s economy is struggling. A coordinated stimulus to curb the crippling housing crisis and support local governments is being announced. We explore the measures undertaken and contemplated and their potential implications for portfolios.

The Bank of Canada lowered its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point in October, to 3.75%.

The level of the overnight rate is still restrictive at 3.75% and the BoC in the press release hinted at future rate cuts will follow to support a return to stronger GDP growth.

North American equity markets continue to push to record highs, bolstered by a promising start to the U.S. third-quarter earnings season.

The influx is continuing to build inventory—which is still hovering near the equivalent of four months of supply.

It has been a busy few weeks with several issues garnering investor attention. The U.S. jobs report has taken on more importance given the Federal Reserve’s admission that it is watching it more closely.

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

Canada is back at 2% inflation, but it’s too soon to pop the champagne. What’s driving prices now looks very different from before the pandemic.

The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates this past week, joining many other major developed central banks who have started to reduce interest rates in recent months.