info@marketfacts.ca +1-807 788 8478
A Surprise From the U.S. Labor Market The Federal Reserve’s September decision just became much more complicated. U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, dramatically beating expectations of roughly 56,000. The unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, while the labor-force participation rate increased to 61.6%. The report signals that the U.S. labor market may be considerably…
September Has a Bad Reputation September has historically been the weakest month for U.S. stocks. Since 1928, the S&P 500 has averaged roughly a 1.1% decline in September, and it has finished lower more often than higher. But seasonality is not a prediction. The bigger question for investors in September 2026 is whether historical weakness…
The Dollar Is Still Dominant—but the Trend Is Changing The U.S. dollar remains the world’s dominant reserve and trading currency. But investors are increasingly questioning whether its long-standing advantage is beginning to weaken. The dollar index has been volatile in recent months, and on August 31 it stood around 99.5, after briefly falling below 99…
A Strong Quarter in a Difficult Economy Canada’s economy has faced plenty of uncertainty—from U.S. trade tensions and elevated household debt to a softer housing market. Yet the country’s major banks are delivering a surprisingly strong earnings performance. Recent results from TD, RBC, CIBC, BMO, Scotiabank and National Bank show that Canada’s banking sector is…
A New Phase in North American Trade Trade tensions between the United States and Canada have escalated sharply. After negotiations broke down, President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel to 50% from January 1, 2027. Canada has also announced retaliatory measures on selected U.S. goods beginning September…
Introduction The U.S. Treasury has taken an unusual step to address rising long-term borrowing costs: buying back outstanding Treasury bonds. The move comes as long-term yields have risen sharply, with the 30-year Treasury yield recently reaching levels not seen since 2007. On August 19, the Treasury announced that it would double the size of certain…
Introduction While investors have focused heavily on technology stocks, artificial intelligence, and high-growth sectors, another group has been quietly delivering strong financial performance: insurance companies. Higher interest rates, improving investment income, disciplined underwriting, and resilient demand have created favorable conditions for insurers. As a result, many insurance companies are generating stronger profits, healthier balance sheets,…
Introduction While investors have focused heavily on technology stocks, artificial intelligence, and high-growth sectors, another group has been quietly delivering strong financial performance: insurance companies. Higher interest rates, improving investment income, disciplined underwriting, and resilient demand have created favorable conditions for insurers. As a result, many insurance companies are generating stronger profits, healthier balance sheets,…
The Market Leadership Question For much of the recent market cycle, large-cap companies have dominated U.S. equities. Their stronger earnings, balance sheets, and access to capital have helped them outperform smaller companies. But the environment may be changing. If interest rates decline, financing conditions improve, and economic growth broadens, small-cap stocks could have an opportunity…
America’s Infrastructure Challenge The United States has one of the world’s largest economies, yet much of its infrastructure is aging. Roads, bridges, airports, water systems, electricity networks, and public transit require significant investment to remain reliable and competitive. The challenge is no longer simply identifying what needs to be rebuilt. The bigger question is who…