The Living Market Podcast

Has the market run out of things to worry about?

Markets don't climb because everything is fine. They climb because everyone is convinced it isn't, says Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at IG Wealth Management. He explains why the wall of worry that carried markets through the first half of 2026 has largely come down, and why that shift raises a simple question: what will carry the markets from here? He breaks down what history says about mid-term elections, why earnings remain the real floor under this market, and why the set-up for the second half of the year is more constructive than many investors might expect.

Is the boom coming with a price tag?

Two years ago, incoming U.S. Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh warned that central banks were getting too comfortable with higher inflation and called it very dangerous. Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at IG Wealth Management, explains why that warning looks prescient today. With most central banks worldwide running above their inflation targets, and bond yields climbing, the boom in labour markets and asset prices is coming with a cost. The question is how central banks respond, and whether markets are ready for that answer.

Are equities a good hedge against inflation?

Is inflation bad for stocks? Ashish Utarid, Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy at IG Wealth Management, went back through 76 years of market data to test that assumption, and the answer is more nuanced than most investors might expect. Stocks have been at least partial inflation hedges across most of the range we've actually lived through. The real risk isn't the inflation level itself; it's the policy response and whether that response tips the economy into a downturn.

Why the markets are smashing through the usual roadblocks

The stock market is doing something unusual: rising steadily while consumers feel worse than they have at any point in recorded history, and most of the usual warning signs are flashing. Ashish Utarid, Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy at IG Wealth Management, breaks down the artificial intelligence concentration story driving U.S. markets and why 10 companies now account for roughly 40% of the entire index. He explains why this rally deserves respect but not blind faith, and why a truly diversified portfolio today means owning more than one version of the same trade.

The era of free money is over: now the math matters.

The bond market has been sending a message, and equity investors are starting to have to listen. Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at IG Wealth Management, breaks down what rising long-term government bond yields mean for a stock market that has climbed sharply in value this year. With inflation still elevated, the U.S. Federal Reserve is in a difficult position. Additionally, AI-driven growth remains powerful, but higher rates are forcing investors to reassess risk, future cash flows and the true cost of capital.

Why Korea matters right now

Most investors haven't been paying attention to Korea. Ashish Utarid, Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy at IG Wealth Management, makes the case that they should be. He explains how sweeping corporate governance reforms have unlocked remarkable stock market gains and why Korean export data has become one of the most reliable early signals for where U.S. manufacturing is headed. For investors focused on artificial intelligence, global manufacturing and shareholder reform, Korea sits at the intersection of all three.

Getting your will and executor right

You have a will. But when did you last review it, and does the person you've named as executor truly understand what they're taking on? In this special edition of The Living Market, host Aurèle Courcelles, IG’s Vice-President, Tax and Estate Planning, is joined by Dan Britton, IG’s AVP, Tax and Estate Planning and Devon Miller, VP, Partnerships and Distribution at ClearEstate. Together, they explore why a will that made sense years ago may no longer reflect your current reality, what the executor role truly demands, and how estate disputes — even in close families — often begin not with money, but with surprises.

The market is strong but is it safe?

When almost everything else feels uncomfortable, earnings have been the one thing working. Ashish Utarid, Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy at IG Wealth Management, unpacks one of the strongest earnings seasons in years: broad-based growth, strong cash flow and all 11 sectors participating for the first time in four years. But Ashish also shares a word of caution: this is a powerful market but not necessarily a safe one. When a market is priced for perfection, good results aren't always enough. The question now isn't whether earnings are good, it's whether they can stay good enough to justify what investors are paying.

Why a soft economy doesn't mean a soft market

The Canadian economy is slowing, but that's not the whole story. Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at IG Wealth Management, explains why a cautious view on the domestic economy doesn't have to mean a cautious view on Canadian equities. He explores how the Toronto Stock Exchange is more connected to global commodity prices and international business activity than to what's happening at home, and why that distinction matters more than ever right now.

Lessons from 100 years of investing

This year, IG Wealth Management celebrates 100 years of helping Canadians invest through everything markets can deliver. Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at IG Wealth Management, takes us through a century of market history; from the 1929 crash to the dot-com boom, the 2008 crisis and pandemic shock. He reveals a surprising pattern: while the triggers change, the rhythm stays remarkably consistent. Excess leads to stress, followed by policy response and recovery. Philip explains why the core building blocks of investing haven't fundamentally changed and shares the real lesson from a century of markets: success isn't about predicting the future perfectly, it's about preparing for it consistently.