“Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants” – Kevin James

Third Quarter Market Recap

Many of the main themes that have affected global asset markets in 2019 – including U.S.-China trade tensions, political uncertainty due to the Brexit negotiations, and slowing economic activity – continued in the third quarter, resulting in somewhat choppy market performance. Nevertheless, market participants ultimately found reasons for optimism in moderate inflation, generally positive corporate earnings reports and supportive business conditions. As a result, many global bond and equity markets posted gains for the quarter.

After reaching a new high in the prior quarter, the U.S. equity market fell sharply near the end of July – and remained volatile over the next several weeks – before climbing higher again. The S&P 500 Index, an index of the 500 largest U.S. publicly traded companies, finished the period up 3.0%, and has posted a gain of 16.9% for 2019 year-to-date in Canadian dollar terms. The U.S. market rally has been broad-based in 2019, with particularly strong results for companies in the information technology, utilities and real estate sectors.

In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite Index also weakened in late-July. It too bounced back to reach a record high late in the quarter, with a rally that was fueled by companies in the financials and consumer staples sectors. The Canadian benchmark gained nearly 2.5% for the quarter and is one of the best-performing equity markets globally with a 2019 year-to-date gain of 19.1%.

Performance for the MSCI EAFE Index, which captures performance for large and mid-cap companies in 21 developed markets across Europe and Asia, was more muted. The index rose slightly by 0.3% in Canadian dollars for the third quarter, bringing its year-to-date gain to 9.9%.

With global growth slowing, the expectation of rate cuts by leading central banks led government bond yields lower and prices higher through much of the three-month period. The U.S. Federal Reserve cut its policy rate twice in the third quarter – once in July and again in September – citing risks including trade tensions and slowing growth overseas. The European Central Bank responded to slower economic growth by taking its key lending rate into negative territory and re-starting its bond purchase program to ease credit conditions. The Bank of Canada, however, bucked the trend, pointing to a strong economy for maintaining its overnight lending rate at 1.75%. The FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index, a broad measure of Canadian government and corporate bonds, returned 1.2% for the quarter and 7.8% for the year-to-date.

Looking ahead, global growth is expected to continue, albeit at a slower pace than we have seen recently, while the risks stemming from trade disputes and political upheaval could continue to affect global economies and markets. At these times, it’s worth bearing in mind that markets rarely move forward without temporary corrections or bouts of volatility. We continue to believe that a diversified portfolio that is suited to your time horizon and risk tolerance remains the best strategy for helping you achieve your financial goals. Should you have any questions regarding your portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Office Closure on Monday October 14, 2019

Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, October 14, 2019 for Thanksgiving.

The office will reopen on Tuesday, October 15th during regular business Hours.

On behalf of the entire You First office, we wish you a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Compliance Update – Incorrect Addresses

Please be advised of the following compliance change regarding incorrect client addresses on file.

In order to remain compliant with Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) Rule 5.4.1 – Delivery of Confirmations, FundEX can no longer process trades for clients with incorrect addresses on file. If you move, it is crucial that you let us know so we can send you an address change form.

You can also log into your Wealthview client portal and update your address on your own. This saves you the time and effort of having to sign a physical form.

Weekly Update – By The Numbers

Sources: C.I. Investments, Yahoo Finance, Globe Investor

This information is provided for general information purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice. Please contact a professional about your specific needs before taking any action.