A Cloud of Uncertainty

The rhetorical tautology, “Predictions are difficult, especially about the future” may feel particularly relevant today.1 The start of 2025 has been marked by low visibility, with two events casting a cloud of uncertainty over investor sentiment: the launch of DeepSeek’s AI platform – claiming to be a significantly lower-cost model – and U.S. President Trump […]
Uncertain Times: Defensive Strategies for Investors

“The desire to perform all the time is usually a barrier to doing well in the long run.”- Howard Marks With slower economic growth, an evolving tariff situation and rising geopolitical uncertainty, many investors may be looking at ways to take a more defensive stance in their portfolios. A Flight to Safety: The Increasing Attention […]
The Evolving Trade War: Is A Recession Looming

When the U.S. launched a trade war in January, many were quick to warn of a possible recession. With Canada’s economy already growing at a sluggish pace – GDP growth is projected at just 1.8 percent for 2025 – the Bank of Canada estimated that a blanket 25 percent tariff would reduce annual GDP growth […]
Even The Good Years Have Down Times

While many aspects of investing in the equity markets may seem unpredictable, one constant remains: volatility. Just how common are market fluctuations? Even in years when the S&P/TSX Composite Index has performed well, we should expect substantial volatility. Over the past 40 years, despite average annual performance of more than 6 percent, the average intra-year […]
Half Full or Half Empty?

How do you view the glass – half full or half empty? This question aptly captures the dual nature of sentiment today. On one hand, our standard of living is among the highest in history, fuelled by technological advances, improved quality of life, substantial and growing wealth and increased life expectancy. On the other hand, […]