This week, the Bank of Canada lifted its conditional pause, raising the key interest rate to 4.75%—a 22-year high. On today’s episode, portfolio managers Matt Montemurro, Chris McHaney and your host, Mckenzie Box, explore the likelihood of further rate hikes. They also discuss ways to monetize volatility, T-bill issuance and market seasonality. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Matt Montemurr...
Jun 08, 2023•29 min
The artificial intelligence boom is here. But will it soon bust? On today’s episode, portfolio managers Matt Montemurro, Chris Heakes and your host, Mckenzie Box, analyze Big Tech’s growth prospects. They also discuss the tentative U.S. debt ceiling deal, the overheating economy and international equities. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Matt Montemurro and Chris Heakes, Portfolio Managers ...
Jun 01, 2023•29 min
As second quarter earnings results trickle in, two Canadian banks fell short of analysts' expectations. On today’s episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Chris McHaney and your host, Mckenzie Box, examine the markets’ initial reaction. They also discuss higher loan-loss provisions, gold prices, factor-based ETFs, the U.S. debt ceiling deadline, and investing in China. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the ...
May 25, 2023•29 min
Canadian CPI came in above expectations for April, prompting speculation about an end to the Bank of Canada’s pause on rate hikes. On today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Om Karmalkar and your host, Mckenzie Box, explore what this could mean for markets. They also discuss low-volatility strategies, the U.S. debt ceiling standoff, and what recent corporate earnings can tell us about the state of the global economy. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and St...
May 18, 2023•21 min
U.S. inflation eases to 4.9% in April, its lowest rate in two years. On today’s special episode, portfolio managers Matt Montemurro, Vishal Bhatia and your host Mckenzie Box explore whether this data will influence the Fed’s potential pause. They also discuss gold’s recent rally, when we could see yield curve normalization and Big Oil’s profits. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Matt Montemur...
May 11, 2023•25 min
In a recent announcement, the Federal Open Market Committee raised rates by 25 basis points in its 10th consecutive hike. On today’s special episode, portfolio managers Matt Montemurro, Chris Heakes and your host Mckenzie Box digest Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s market-moving comments. They also discuss dividend strategies, the JPMorgan Chase takeover of First Republic, Canadian banks and mega-cap tech stocks. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy ...
May 04, 2023•23 min
As the default rate ticks higher, refinancing risk sits on the horizon. In today’s special episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Matt Montemurro, and your host Mckenzie Box analyze the cracks in the banking system and where vulnerabilities lie. They also discuss tech giant earnings, First Republic’s plunging shares and the quality factor. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Alfred Lee and Mat...
Apr 27, 2023•28 min
Canadian inflation cools to the lowest level since 2021, reaffirming the Bank of Canada’s pause. In today’s special episode, portfolio managers Chris Heakes, Chris McHaney, and your host Mckenzie Box explore what rate normalization means for markets. They also discuss recent bank earnings announcements, the benefits of low volatility investing, and the tailwinds building for gold. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is jo...
Apr 20, 2023•26 min
Recent market events have taken investors on a walk down memory lane, as elements of the banking crisis look eerily similar to the challenges faced in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Where will regulators’ approaches lead? In this episode, Erika Toth and Alfred Lee discuss the latest quarterly Portfolio Strategy Report (QSR) and Fixed Income Strategy Report (FISR), which analyze the central banks’ rate decisions, inflation’s trajectory, a shift in factor leadership, and portfolio construction across asset cl...
Apr 18, 2023•23 min
Earlier this week, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said the right monetary approach calls for prudence and patience, all while the pressure mounts for a pause. On today’s special episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Matt Montemurro, and your host Mckenzie Box analyze the latest CPI prints North and South of the border. They also discuss a shift in market leadership, an uptick in interest rate volatility and the quest for de-dollarization. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Direct...
Apr 13, 2023•28 min
Investor sentiment is divided on whether or not the liquidity crunch that hit U.S. regional lenders in early March is over, or there are still more ripple effects to come for the financial system. On today’s episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Chris McHaney and your host Mckenzie Box discuss how best to position investors’ exposure to financial stocks. They also decipher what “additional tier-one” bonds are, and the relative safety of these securities within broader portfolios. And finally, ...
Mar 30, 2023•29 min
Investors have sold off Canadian banks alongside global peers in recent weeks amid Credit Suisse’s fire sale and broader financial-system concerns. On today’s episode, portfolio managers Vishal Bhatia, Chris Heakes and your host Mckenzie Box discuss how the selloff has created buying opportunities for longer-term investors. They also discuss other trading opportunities created by the recent volatility, including in infrastructure stocks, as well as what Canada’s latest inflation print means for ...
Mar 23, 2023•21 min
In the wake of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse, investors are left wondering: what’s next? On today’s special episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Om Karmalkar, and your host Kevin Prins look for signs of contagion in other regional banks and analyze what cards the Fed has to play. They also discuss where the trouble began, inflation, volatility in the bond market, a silver lining for equities and ways to capitalize on Canadian banking. Read the episode summary. Kevin Prins is the Managing Dir...
Mar 15, 2023•33 min
In this special episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Chris Heakes and Daniel Stanley dive into first-quarter results from Canada’s “Big Six,” discussing how the banks are “rolling with the punches.” They also explore the possibility of a recession, putting credit costs into context, the philosophy of equal weighting, and the evolving Canadian housing ecosystem. Daniel Stanley is an ETF Specialist at BMO Global Asset Management. He is joined on the podcast by Chris Heakes, Portfolio Manager and ETF Speciali...
Mar 14, 2023•41 min
Bond markets are once again grappling with the spectre of higher interest rate increases from the Fed, with high-yield issuers facing the fastest pace of ratings downgrades since early 2020. On today’s episode, portfolio managers Winnie Jiang, Alfred Lee and your host Mckenzie Box explore how investors should position their current fixed-income exposures. They also discuss the resurgence of Canadian REITs this year as the Bank of Canada pauses its rate-hiking cycle for the time being, while also...
Mar 10, 2023•26 min
With inflation data diverging, odds are growing that monetary policy will follow suit with the Fed forced to continue tightening rates while the Bank of Canada pauses. On today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Alfred Lee and your host Mckenzie Box discuss how to benefit from the expected policy divergence as the greenback strengthens in the near term. They also discuss the Canadian banks’ quarterly results, as well as the outlook for healthcare stocks. Read the episode summary. Mcken...
Mar 02, 2023•29 min
Canadian investors breathed a small sigh of relief following January inflation data that showed a continued cooling in consumer prices. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris Heakes, Matt Montemurro and your host, Mckenzie Box discuss the divergence of inflation trends occurring between Canada and the U.S., where price gains continue to run hotter than expected, increasing the likelihood interest rates will need to go higher for longer there. They also dive into the relative performance of...
Feb 23, 2023•30 min
The latest U.S. consumer-price data came in hotter than expected, with core inflation proving more resilient than economists were forecasting in January. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Alfred Lee and your host, Mckenzie Box discuss why inflation is sticky, and how markets should be braced for additional volatility ahead. They also discuss whether a new tax on share buybacks could spell bigger dividends for U.S. companies, as well as the impact that President Biden’s ‘Buy A...
Feb 17, 2023•27 min
Markets kicked off the year with a January rally, but stocks have since wavered as inflation concerns and the risk of a downturn later in 2023 have shaken investor optimism. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris Heakes, Matt Montemurro, and your host, McKenzie Box go into strategies on how to play defense while remaining positioned for upside surprises. They also discuss the current yield curve inversion, and ways to benefit through exposure to shorter-duration bonds. Read the episode sum...
Feb 10, 2023•33 min
The Fed delivered on an expected rate hike at its latest meeting this week, but in the central bank’s accompanying commentary was far less transparent on where rates go from here. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Alfred Lee, and your host, Mark Raes discuss the market reaction to the Fed’s decision, and why investors are perhaps unconvinced that rates will rise much further. They also dive into where food and energy prices could head this year, and suggest ways investors can...
Feb 02, 2023•31 min
The Bank of Canada has sent a pretty clear indication that rate hikes are on pause until further notice, opting to evaluate how the latest – and perhaps last – 25 basis-point increase in the current cycle will impact borrowers and the broader economy before the bank decides on a further tightening of monetary policy. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris Heakes, Matt Montemurro, and your host, McKenzie Box, discuss why the BoC’s guidance is a sign to look at long bonds again. They also di...
Jan 26, 2023•29 min
After a strong run, the U.S. dollar rally is fading as emerging-markets and gold stage respective comebacks after slumping through 2022. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Alfred Lee, and your host, McKenzie Box, discuss how investors can hedge currency positions to take advantage of these shifts. They also dive into whether direct exposure to gold or gold-mining equities is the better way to capitalize on the metal’s bullish outlook. Read the full episode summary. Mckenzie Bo...
Jan 19, 2023•23 min
The latest U.S. inflation print points toward a continued deceleration in consumer prices, likely providing the Fed the evidence it needs to reduce or even pause altogether an expected interest-rate hike at the Federal Open Market Committee’s next meeting. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris Heakes, Matt Montemurro, and your host, McKenzie Box, discuss why investors may want to maintain defensive exposure despite a less hawkish Fed. They also dive into how factor investing can mitigate ...
Jan 13, 2023•27 min
2022 was a challenging time in the markets, which had investors riding the waves of uncertainty. As we enter the new year, are inflation and interest rates trending in the right direction? In this episode, Erika Toth and Alfred Lee discuss the latest quarterly Portfolio Strategy and Fixed Income Strategy Reports, which explore the 2023 market outlook, central banks, gold, key risks, and portfolio construction across various asset classes. Erika Toth is a Director of ETF Distribution at BMO ETFs....
Jan 04, 2023•24 min
In this special episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Chris Heakes, and Daniel Stanley dive into fourth quarter results from Canada’s “Big Six,” discussing the state of the economy, dividend increases, OSFI’s decision to raise the domestic stability buffer, the size factor, recent acquisitions, and the changing dynamics in the real estate market. Daniel Stanley is an ETF Specialist at BMO Global Asset Management. He is joined on the podcast by Chris Heakes, Portfolio Manager and ETF Specialist, BMO Global A...
Dec 22, 2022•34 min
In its final policy decision of the year, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a half-point hike, raising interest rates to the highest level in 15 years. How long will rates remain elevated? And when will inflation get under control? In this episode, McKenzie Box and Alfred Lee discuss the central banks’ latest moves and how investors can prepare for the “old normal.” They also explore the 2023 outlook—and what it could mean for investment portfolios. McKenzie Box is the Vice President of Product...
Dec 21, 2022•16 min
Consumer prices continued to decelerate in the United States in November, providing investors more relief that central banks are getting inflation under control. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Matt Montemurro, and your host, Mark Raes, discuss whether or not high inflation could persist. They also go into the outlook for infrastructure stocks and the fixed-income market next year. Finally, a timely reminder on tax-loss selling ideas as end-of-year deadlines draw near. Read...
Dec 15, 2022•29 min
The Bank of Canada’s latest trend-setting interest rate hike of half a percentage point marks perhaps its last in the current cycle. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Chris Heakes, and your host, McKenzie Box, discuss why the central bank may have hit at least a “pause” on tightening rates further. They also go into the upside for value and dividend stocks as well as near-term institutional bullishness for equities overall. Finally, paths for effective tax-loss selling before th...
Dec 08, 2022•25 min
RBC’s blockbuster bid for HSBC, the country’s seventh-largest lender, has capped a wave of Canadian bank M&A. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Vishal Bhatia, Chris McHaney, and your host, McKenzie Box, dive into the growth potential these deals hold for the banks. They also discuss how to position portfolios amid a steepening yield-curve inversion, and possible end to China’s zero-COVID policy. Finally, where to find value among tech’s discounted mega-caps. Read episode summary. McKenz...
Dec 01, 2022•29 min
Fears of contagion momentarily gripped markets in the wake of FTX’s meltdown and bankruptcy filing. In today’s episode, portfolio managers Winnie Jiang, Chris McHaney, and your host, Mark Raes, explore the potential for future regulation in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. They also discuss the latest inflation data, currency hedging, and the success of low volatility strategies this year. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is the Head of Product at BMO Global Asset Management. He is joined...
Nov 24, 2022•30 min
