The world is full of surprises or unknowns, some of which we can anticipate, while others are harder to foresee. “Known unknowns” are uncertainties and issues of which we are aware, but do not know the outcome. An example is this year’s U.S. presidential election. “Unknown unknowns” are events that we do not expect or…
Dear friends, I hope you are your family are continuing to stay well. I am writing to update you on some of the key economic, market and pandemic-related developments for the week. Macroeconomic and market developments The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide surpassed 15 million. The U.S. continued to struggle to contain the spread…
Dear friends, I hope you and your family are well and have had the chance to be outside to enjoy some summer weather. As we enter the fifth month of the global coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 infection rates in many parts of Canada have slowed, and restrictions are gradually being lifted. Although it is likely to…
Dear friends, I hope that you and your family are well. After a truly unique quarter for capital markets, I am writing to provide you with a brief overview of some key developments during that time, as well as some insight on what can be expected as we head into the next three months of…
Dear friends, I trust that all is well with you and your family. Below you will find a summary of this week’s market developments and some associated thoughts. Market developments • In a shortened week, North American equity markets rebounded from last week’s decline, weighing positive vaccine data from Pfizer and BioNTech against growing COVID-19…
Dear friends, I hope all is well. Below you will find a summary of this week’s market developments and subsequent thoughts. Market developments North American equity markets proved volatile this week, reacting to increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections in 27 states and fears of new lockdowns and decreased economic activity. In particular, cases continued to…
Dear friends, I hope you and your family are well. Below you will find a summary of this week’s market developments and related thoughts. Market developments After pulling back last week, North American equity markets advanced, with optimistic economic announcements and a potential COVID-19 treatment outweighing “second wave” fears. Ten U.S. states saw coronavirus numbers…
Dear friends, I trust that all is well. Below you will find a summary of this week’s market developments and related thoughts. Following the best 50-day period in the history of the S&P 500 Index (which measures the stock performance of 500 large companies listed on stock exchanges in the U.S.) and the Nasdaq (a…
Dear friends, I hope you and your family are well. Below you will find a summary of this week’s market developments and some related thoughts. Market developments Despite civil unrest across the United States, escalating American tensions with China and an ongoing battle with COVID-19, North American markets once again moved higher. White House…
Dear friends, I trust that all is well with you and your family this week. Below you will find a summary of this week’s market developments and some further thoughts. Market developments • North American markets again moved higher on continued optimism over re-openings; all 50 U.S. states have now at least partially re-opened their…