The Living Market Podcast IG Wealth Management

Inflation dropped to 3.1% in October, but it would have been much lower if it weren’t for the rise in mortgage interest costs, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. He examines the impacts of higher mortgage payments on consumer behaviour and retail sales, and discusses the likely timing for the Bank of Canada to make a rate cut.

There are three key reasons behind the recent fall in oil prices, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. Conflicts are not having the impact on prices that was expected, which has reduced the impact of speculators. Oil output is up, with stockpiles increasing, and demand (particularly from China) is down. Philip explains what this means for the economy in general and Canada in particular.

This earnings season delivered some mixed messages, says IG’s Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy,  Ashish Utarid. While 82% of S&P 500 companies outperformed earnings projections, only 48% outperformed total sales expectations. Ashish dives into these apparently contradictory results to explain what they mean for manufacturing, consumer behaviour and a likely recovery.

IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson says that while the current investing landscape is undoubtedly challenging, it’s important to remember that a weak economy does not automatically mean poor market returns. Philip shares his tips for investing in a volatile environment and reminds us that negative economic data has historically been followed by strong market returns.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, or the Fed as it’s known, is once again caught between a rock and a hard place, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. On one hand, the Fed doesn’t want to hike interest rates and trigger a recession into 2024. On the other, it sure doesn’t want to slash them. Philip says markets are beginning to come to terms with this standoff.

IG Wealth Management’s Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy, Ashish Utarid says, when we delve into investment risks, it’s essential to discern between two primary types: systemic and non-systemic risk. He says investment strategy takes empirical data from around the world, and by interpreting these indicators, his team provides insights for an investment decision or thesis. He says what has changed in the last decade is the impact of mass media on investor sentiment — which requires insights into geopolitical risk.