The Living Market Podcast

The unyielding reign of the U.S. dollar

The reserve currency status of the U.S. dollar is an advantage that has been helping America on the world stage since the end of World War 2. This week, IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson shares reasons why the U.S. dollar has remained the world’s primary reserve currency. He also weighs the viability of other alternative currencies challenging its dominance.

The oil is plentiful and the drama is real.

While OPEC may not be as powerful as it was in the 1970s, it still wields a large influence over oil markets, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. He takes us through the history of the oil cartel and discusses how its recent decision to cut production could impact economic recovery and the loonie.

Is Big Tech a safe haven for investors?

As the markets continue to be stormy, IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson suggests an unlikely safe haven may have emerged: Big Tech. Current conditions seem to favour large tech firms; last month, as the majority of Nasdaq stocks lost value, Microsoft, Apple and Alphabet collectively gained by $634 billion.

Did the Bank of Canada just beat inflation?

Trending inflation data suggests that the Bank of Canada has succeeded in reducing inflation, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. However, while the markets are anticipating a rate cut later this year, Philip explains why he thinks this is unlikely. 

What happened with Silicon Valley Bank?

Last week, Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, which led to some volatility in the markets. IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson explains what caused the bank’s failure, how the U.S. Federal Reserve reacted, and why this is NOT like the Great Financial Crisis.

The Bank of Canada’s Catch-22

The Bank of Canada’s governor, Tiff Macklem, has a tough decision to make, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. Keep rates stable and he’ll risk higher inflation; hike rates in line with the U.S. and he could slow down the economy even more.

It only matters what I can prove

It’s important to realize that some financial commentators use extreme language to get your attention; their views often lack evidence to back them up. IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson, says it doesn’t matter what they think, it only matters what they can prove.

Is a recession possible with a strong job market?

The labour markets in both the U.S. and Canada are proving to be much more resilient than expected. Nevertheless, IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson believes that we could have both a strong job market and a recession, albeit one with a soft landing.

Optimists, pessimists and realists

Investors often fall into two categories; pessimists and optimists, says IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson. He believes that the optimists are in part driving the recent equity market rally, in the belief that interest rate cuts will happen later this year. The realist’s view is a little different, but bodes well for both pessimists and optimists.

Is now a good time to invest?

People often ask the question: “Is now a good time to invest in the stock market?” IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson, discusses the odds involved in successfully timing the market. He also explores the surprisingly small benefits of investing at the “right” time and why the best time could simply be when you have the money.