The Living Market Podcast

Why we pay attention to manufacturing

On top of manufacturing’s 11% contribution to U.S. GDP, many more companies ship, sell and service manufactured goods. This is why, according to IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson, manufacturing data can tell us so much about the economy, including helping us to predict earnings growth and the direction of bonds.

Is “sell in May and go away” good advice?

Some ideas behind market seasonality, like “sell in May and go away”, the Santa Claus rally and the Halloween effect, still appeal to some investors looking to buy low and sell higher. IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson explores the realities of historical returns and makes his suggestions for successfully navigating the markets between May and September.

Expectations and the earnings season

This week, IG Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Strategist, Philip Petursson discusses the insights we can glean from earnings season. He explains how positive expectations don’t always mean good news and that we can use market expectations to our advantage, provided we tame our emotions.

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.