Wealth Management Insights

Last Month in the Markets – July 1st – 29th, 2022: Inflation and central bank actions continued to dominate the news and heavily influence capital markets. Inflation is beginning to be tempered as economic growth slows directly and indirectly from interest rate increases from the Bank of Canada, the Federal Reserve in North America and from the European Central Bank. 

Last Month in the Markets – May 2nd – 31st, 2022: Despite significant volatility during May by the end of the month the major North American indices had settled almost where they had begun. The NASDAQ, more heavily weighted to technology, lost 2%, and the broad-based TSX and S&P 500, and the large corporates of the Dow, were flat for May.

Last Month in the Markets – April 1st – 29th, 2022: The month began on a positive note for North American equity indices, unfortunately, the high-water mark was reached on the first Monday of the month. 

Last Month in the Markets – March 1st – 31st, 2022: For the fourth consecutive month North American equities dipped mid-month and then recovered before month’s end.

Last Month in the Markets – February 1st – 28th, 2022: Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, North American equity markets had been doing relatively well despite less than favourable local news. The trend had been downward with the major indices losing value during the first three weeks of the month mirroring overall performance in 2022. 

With a new year comes new tax numbers! Below is a quick reference of important tax numbers for three years, including 2022. CRA has utilized a 1% indexing (inflation) for those numbers subject to that condition.

Last Month in the Markets – January 3 - 31, 2022: At the beginning of the month, equities fell during the first week, regained their value and stabilized before dipping strongly around the end of week 3, and ended the month regaining some lost value. Overall equities performed poorly for several reasons.

Last Year in the Markets – January 4th – December 31st, 2021: The last year, just like the past 22 months since March 2020, have been filled with investment uncertainty based on many major and minor factors. 

Tax Loss Selling is a Canada Revenue Agency sanctioned strategy to reduce capital gains taxes. Securities are sold that incur a capital loss, which is then used to offset taxable capital gains. Any losses must first be applied the current tax year, then unused losses can offset gains in the previous three years or carried forward indefinitely. Tax Loss Selling is applicable to only non-registered investments.