The Living Market Podcast IG Wealth Management

In this special edition of the Living Market, IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson discusses ways to minimize taxes before the year-end with Aurèle Courcelles, Assistant Vice-President, Tax and Estate Planning at IG. Aurèle outlines tax-loss selling, tax-efficient charitable giving, and the most tax-efficient ways to withdraw from an RESP and a TFSA. He also explains how tax planning needs to be a part of your overall financial plan for maximum tax efficiency.

As we look towards the new year, IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson looks at the six key themes that he feels will have big impacts on the markets in 2024. Considering all the factors, he believes the data points to a general sense of improvement. And improvement, he says, brings opportunity.

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.