Asset Allocation Update Correlation between US equities & Treasuries not set in stone While many observers seem to have been surprised by last month’s joint sell-off in US equities and Treasuries, there is no reason in principle why the two assets should be negatively correlated. It... 11th October 2021 · 4 mins read
Commodities Weekly Energy price rally maybe running out of steam Commodity prices generally rose this week, helped by the US senate approving a deal to increase the federal debt ceiling. After a rollercoaster of a week, European natural gas prices ended the week... 8th October 2021 · 5 mins read
DM Valuations Monitor Assessing the outlook for US equity valuations We forecast that the valuation of the US stock market will deflate a bit further over the next couple of years, though we are not expecting a sharp decline. 8th October 2021 · 8 mins read
US Economics Weekly Congress hits snooze on the debt ceiling Even the more modest 194,000 gain in non-farm payrolls in September is “decent” enough for the Fed to announce at next month’s meeting that it will begin tapering its asset purchases, especially now... 8th October 2021 · 8 mins read
Canada Economics Weekly Heading off a fiscal cliff? There have been rumours this week that the government will extend some of the emergency spending measures that are soon due to expire. They are unlikely to be extended in their current generous form... 8th October 2021 · 5 mins read
US Commercial Property Update Four likely winners in retail The retail sector appears to be turning a corner, and we think that convenience-oriented Neighbourhood and Community (N&C) centres, out-of-town retail, “destination”-type malls and retail located in... 8th October 2021 · 3 mins read
Canada Data Response Labour Force Survey (Sep.) The surprisingly strong gain in September means that employment is now back in line with its pre-pandemic level, but the still elevated unemployment rate and only moderate pace of wage growth suggests... 8th October 2021 · 2 mins read
US Data Response Employment Report (Sep.) The disappointing 194,000 gain in non-farm payrolls in September probably still counts as “decent” enough for the Fed to begin tapering its asset purchases next month. But alongside signs that... 8th October 2021 · 2 mins read
US Economics Update Debt ceiling deal may only delay the inevitable The entrenched positions of both sides suggest the deal to suspend the debt ceiling until December may only delay rather than avert a crisis. And in that scenario, we doubt that the Treasury minting a... 7th October 2021 · 4 mins read
US Housing Market Update Will sales of condos continue to outperform? Sales of condos have been on tear in recent months, with their share in total existing home sales reaching a 14-year high in June. The reopening of cities helps explain that development, and condo... 7th October 2021 · 3 mins read
Precious Metals Update Dim outlook for the silver price We think that weaker physical demand, higher real US Treasury yields and a stronger dollar will mean that the recent poor performance of the silver price is set to continue over the next couple of... 7th October 2021 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (Sep.) Home purchase applications rose for the first time in six months in September, even as mortgage rates increased to a 14-week high by the end of the month. But we expect a further rise in mortgage... 6th October 2021 · 2 mins read
Canada Economics Update What might prompt the Bank to take a hawkish turn? The sharp slowdown in economic growth in the past couple of quarters suggests that the probability of the Bank of Canada following other central banks in becoming more hawkish is low. The risk will... 6th October 2021 · 5 mins read
Asset Allocation Update Infrastructure & reconciliation unlikely to mean Q1 rerun While the large fiscal stimulus passed in the US in the first quarter of this year appears to have been a key reason why equities there outperformed Treasuries at the time, we think that the... 6th October 2021 · 5 mins read
Commodities Chart Pack Gas & coal surge to support other commodity prices Natural gas and coal prices soared in September. In turn, this has raised the output costs of industrial metals, most notably those which are especially energy intensive such as aluminium and steel... 5th October 2021 · 12 mins read
US Data Response US International Trade (Aug.) We expect that the widening in the trade deficit to $73.3bn in August, from $70.3bn, will soon start to reverse, as exports catch up with imports. But there is a risk over the coming months that... 5th October 2021 · 2 mins read
