2022 was a very difficult year for the global financial markets. Both North American stock and bond markets suffered double-digit negative returns. As measured by the Nasdaq Index, technology stocks fared the worst, ending the year down over 30%. In Canada, the average return for a Canadian balanced fund was a loss of 12%. Hemisphere …
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has amplified energy security concerns, particularly in European Union (EU) nations. The EU has historically relied on Russia for over 40% of their natural gas consumption. With Russia restricting natural gas flows to the EU, the EU has been forced to look elsewhere for alternative supplies. Securing adequate energy supplies …
The recent strength of the U.S. dollar highlights the extraordinary flight-to-safety of international investors following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since the invasion, the euro has declined 11% – a 20-year low. The British pound has fallen 14% – an astounding 37-year low. The Japanese yen, another major currency, has dropped 20% – …
The first-half of 2022 proved to be a challenging time for global financial markets. High inflation, rising interest rates, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and persistent supply-chain challenges have acted as a myriad of headwinds for financial markets. Notable indexes for both risky assets (stocks) and less-risky assets (bonds) have suffered double-digit losses since the start of the year. On a relative basis, client portfolios have performed well and have continued to protect capital during the market weakness.
The events of February 24, 2022 shocked the world as Russia launched a large-scale military offensive in Ukraine. The U.S. and its allies responded with sweeping sanctions and boycotts to hamper the Russian economy. They have stopped short of engaging in a direct conflict with Russia at the risk of further escalation. While a resolution may be on the horizon, the impacts of the conflict have been wide-ranging across industries and felt globally. Humanitarian crises are arising in neighbouring countries as almost 4 million refugees have fled Ukraine while commodity shortages from export restrictions have ripped through global supply chains.