• Stocks trade higher on signs of de-escalation in the Middle East – North American equity markets traded higher Monday, with the TSX gaining roughly 2% and the S&P 500 1.2%, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would halt strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days following productive conversations with Iran over the weekend. Market leadership was broad-based, with all 11 sectors of the S&P 500 closing higher, while growth-oriented sectors such as technology and consumer discretionary outperformed. European equity markets also rallied on the news, with the Euro Stoxx 50 Index closing up more than 1%. Bond yields traded modestly lower, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield declining to 4.35%, while the 10-year GoC yield finished at 3.54%. In commodity markets, oil prices declined roughly 10% to below $90 per barrel.
   
• Signs of de-escalation spark rally in equity markets – Global equity markets traded higher following signs of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict. Over the weekend, rhetoric intensified, with U.S. President Trump threatening to target Iranian energy and power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened by Monday evening. Early Monday morning, however, President Trump announced that, following productive conversations with Iran, the United States would postpone any strikes for five days to allow for further negotiations. Markets responded positively to the shift in tone, with equities moving higher while crude oil prices declined. Although this change in rhetoric is an encouraging development, we think the clearest indication of meaningful de-escalation will be whether crude oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are able to recover. Roughly 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the strait, underscoring its importance to global energy markets. ¹ Headlines remain fluid, and market volatility could persist in the days and weeks ahead. Even so, we continue to believe that a healthy economic backdrop creates attractive opportunities across global equity markets. In particular, we see compelling opportunities in U.S. equities, as well as in developed overseas small- and mid-cap equities and emerging-market equities.
   
• March performance check-in – Global equity markets have stumbled in March as the conflict in Iran has driven crude oil prices more than 30% higher, weighing on overall risk sentiment. Through Friday’s close, the S&P 500 had fallen 5.4% for the month, while the TSX has declined by nearly 9%. International equities have underperformed, down roughly 10% over the same period. The United States has been a net exporter of energy products since 2019, which may offer some insulation from supply disruptions. By contrast, regions such as Asia and Europe remain more reliant on imported energy to meet demand. In Canada, despite being a net exporter of energy products, a sharp pullback in the materials sector has weighed on performance in March. In fixed income, Canadian investment-grade bonds are down over 2%, as rising yields have weighed on returns.

Brock Weimer, CFA ;
Investment Strategy

^{Source for all data not cited: FactSet. 
Cited sources: 1. International Energy Agency
International stocks represented by MSCI AC World ex USA Index.} 

• Stocks close lower amid geopolitical uncertainty and higher bond yields – North American equity markets closed sharply lower on Friday, weighed down by rising bond yields and persistent geopolitical uncertainty. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield closed just below 4.4%, up from below 4.0% at the end of February, as higher oil prices have pushed inflation expectations higher and reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. On the geopolitical front, oil prices edged higher amid continued uncertainty over the duration of the conflict, following reports that the U.S. is increasing military support in the Middle East. In terms of market leadership, energy and financials were the only S&P 500 sectors to finish higher, while interest-rate-sensitive sectors such as utilities and real estate, along with growth-oriented sectors such as technology, were among the laggards. On the economic side, domestic retail sales increased 1.1% in January, well above expectations for a 0.3% gain. Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, also rose a healthy 0.9%. Although higher oil prices could weigh on discretionary household spending in the months ahead, today’s report, together with the initial estimate for a 0.9% increase in headline retail sales for February, suggests Canadian household spending showed solid momentum early in the quarter.
   
• Earnings expectations holding steady despite uncertainty – The conflict involving Iran has contributed to recent market volatility, with the S&P 500 closing 5% below its January 27 all-time high yesterday. That said, we would remind investors that volatility and market pullbacks are a normal part of investing and that, historically, geopolitical conflicts have generally had only a short-term and limited effect on financial markets. On average, the S&P 500 experiences approximately three 5% pullbacks and one 10% pullback each calendar year.** Meanwhile, expectations for earnings growth in 2026 remain constructive. TSX earnings are expected to grow by 18% this year, while S&P 500 earnings are projected to grow by nearly 17%, supported by continued strength in the technology sector. Earnings growth is expected to be healthy overseas as well, with MSCI ACWI ex USA earnings forecast to rise by nearly 18% this year. In our view, opportunities in equity markets remain attractive, and we continue to favour U.S. equities, emerging-market equities, and developed overseas small- and mid-cap equities.
   
• Global monetary policy in focus – Monetary policy was in focus this week, as central banks in the U.S., Canada, Japan, the euro zone, and the United Kingdom all concluded their March meetings and opted to leave policy rates unchanged. Global bond markets were under pressure following a shift in tone from the Bank of England (BoE). While the BoE’s February monetary policy summary suggested a path of gradual easing, the March summary struck a more hawkish tone, removing commentary around expectations for future rate cuts and instead emphasizing the need to return inflation to its 2% target. The U.K. 2-year government bond yield rose 0.26% yesterday and has increased more than 0.7% this month. The Bank of Canada and the European Central Bank each struck a more measured tone, underscoring a wait-and-see approach, while the Bank of Japan signaled that it would likely continue raising interest rates if economic activity evolves broadly in line with its expectations. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve also released an updated set of economic projections at this week’s meeting, raising its forecasts for headline and core inflation in 2026, citing upward pressure on goods prices from tariffs and higher oil prices.* Despite the firmer inflation outlook, policymakers maintained their projection for one interest-rate cut in 2026.* In our view, the Bank of Canada is likely to remain on hold in the near-term, particularly given signs of softening labour-market conditions. In the U.S., we believe the Fed’s rate-cutting cycle remains intact but has likely been delayed, with cuts now unlikely until later in 2026 or 2027.

Brock Weimer, CFA ;
Investment Strategy

^{Source for all data not cited: FactSet. 
Source for data cited: *Federal Open Market Committee, March 2026 Summary of Economic Projections 
**FactSet, Edward Jones.} 

• Markets close lower amid energy supply concerns – The TSX and U.S. equity markets finished lower on Thursday, with pullbacks in materials and consumer discretionary stocks leading the decline. In international markets, Asia and Europe were also down. In energy markets, WTI oil pulled back from its recent high as Israel's Prime Minister commented that Israel would support U.S. efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite near-term volatility, we continue to see opportunities across markets and asset classes. Within equities, we favor U.S. large- and mid-cap stocks, supported by robust AI‑related capital investment and steady U.S. economic growth. We think the recent pullback in international markets could present an attractive entry point for long‑term investors. We favor overseas developed small‑ and mid‑caps and emerging‑market equities, which could benefit from relatively attractive valuations and healthy global earnings growth expected in 2026. Within fixed income, international bonds can add diversification through exposure to different economic and interest-rate cycles, while emerging-market debt may also enhance income.
   
• Jobless claims lower than expected – U.S. initial jobless claims ticked down to 205,000 this past week, below the 215,000 consensus. Continuing claims — reflecting the total number of people receiving benefits — rose modestly to 1.86 million, as expected, suggesting some workers are taking longer to find new employment. We think these trends remain consistent with a stabilizing labour market. Slower job creation alongside a moderate pace of layoffs should help keep wage gains running above inflation. However elevated oil prices could push inflation higher, at least temporarily, potentially raising the bar for real wage gains.
   
• Bond yields mixed – Bond yields were mixed, with the 10-year Government of Canada yield up to 3.44% and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield down near 4.26%. However, the broader trend in recent weeks has been higher. Over half of that increase is attributable to rising inflation expectations, a key component of bond yields. Market-implied 10-year inflation expectations in U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) markets have climbed about 15 basis points (0.15%) this month to 2.4%. Bond markets are also reflecting the view that higher inflation — partially influenced by rising oil prices — could delay Fed rate cuts. Markets have pushed back the implied timing for the next rate cut out to September 2027, followed by another in December*. That would represent a slower pace of easing than the Fed's latest projections released just yesterday**. We think the Fed remains positioned to continue cutting rates, though the path will likely be gradual. The steady labor backdrop should allow policymakers more time to confirm that the Fed's preferred personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation — currently 2.8% — is easing sustainably toward the 2% target before proceeding with additional cuts.

Brian Therien, CFA ;
Investment Strategy

^{Source for all data not cited: FactSet. Source for data cited: *CME FedWatch **U.S. Federal Reserve}

• Markets close lower as central banks holds rates steady – The TSX and U.S. equity markets finished lower on Wednesday, as producer price inflation through February came in hotter than expected at 3.4% annualized. Declines in consumer staples and consumer discretionary stocks led the pullback. In international markets, Asia finished higher overnight — led by South Korea's Kospi index — while Europe was down. The U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies, as investors likely seek the relative stability of the world's reserve currency. In energy markets, WTI oil traded higher as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East constrain supply. We continue to see opportunities across markets and asset classes. Within equities, we favor U.S. large- and mid-cap stocks, which we believe stand to benefit from their higher quality and broadening leadership. We also see potential in international developed small- and mid-cap and emerging-market equities, supported by global economic resilience and relatively attractive valuations. Within fixed income, we think international bonds can add diversification through exposure to different economic and interest-rate cycles, while emerging-market debt may also enhance income.
   
• Bank of Canada and Fed holds rates steady, as expected - Bank of Canada concluded its March meeting today, holding its policy rate steady at 2.25%, as expected. Policymakers noted that risks to growth look tilted to the downside, while inflation risks have risen due to higher energy prices*. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) also finished its March meeting today, holding the target range for the federal funds rate steady at 3.5%-3.75%, in line with forecasts. The Fed also updated its quarterly projections, maintaining its expectations for the Fed funds rate, still indicating one cut this year and another next year. FOMC hiked its outlook for inflation for 2026 and 2027, citing the temporary impact of higher oil prices and lingering tariff effects, while upgrading its estimate on stronger expected productivity. Monetary policy appears roughly neutral, with the fed funds rate near 3.65% and the Fed's preferred personal consumption expenditure (PCE) inflation measure at 2.8%. A neutral policy rate is generally estimated to be 0.75%-1% above inflation**. Bond yields rose, with the 10-year Government of Canada yield at 3.44% and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield at 4.27%. We still think the Fed remains on its rate-cutting path, likely moving the policy rate into the 3.25%-3.5% range by year-end. However, the labour market that is characterized by slower hiring and fewer layoffs should give policymakers more time to confirm that PCE is cooling sustainably toward the 2% target before delivering additional cuts. Additional monetary policy easing should help gradually reduce borrowing costs for households and businesses, likely supporting consumer spending and corporate earnings.
   
• Producer price inflation higher than expected – U.S. producer price index (PPI) inflation rose to 3.4% annualized through February, above expectations to hold steady at 2.7%. More than half of the February rise in wholesale prices were attributable to services, which are up 3.8% year-over-year. We believe these readings indicate that inflation pressures remain sticky. Wholesale inflation is now significantly higher than CPI at 2.4%, even before factoring in higher energy prices. Because some components of PPI feed through to PCE, the Fed is likely to remain cautious over the near-term, in our view.

Brian Therien, CFA ;
Investment Strategy

^{Source for all data not cited: FactSet. Source for data cited: *Bank of Canada ** Federal Reserve Bank of New York}

• Markets build on Monday's rally – Equity and bond markets moved tentatively higher today despite a rise in oil prices, building on the improvement in sentiment seen yesterday. WTI hit $96 per barrel at close despite bullish comments from President Trump that the conflict in Iran was moving way ahead of schedule, with markets reacting to news of attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East overnight. The S&P 500 index was up 0.3% over the day, with the small cap Russel 2000 index reporting a firmer 0.7% gain, although the Canadian S&P/TSX index was flat. A generally more upbeat tone continues to help push bond yields lower, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury note down 2 basis point today (0.02%) while the Canadian 10-year fell 4 basis points (0.04%) and is now down 13 basis points over the week so far (0.13%). Finally, we are seeing the U.S. dollar give back some of the safe-haven driven gains seen during the latest geopolitical shock, with the greenback now down 0.75% from its peak against a basket of trade weighted currencies.
   
• Gas prices continue to rise – Elevated oil prices continue to translate into higher prices at the pump for American households. The daily national average unleaded gasoline price has now risen to $3.80 per gallon, a full dollar higher than the 2026 low seen in January. In those states with the highest gas prices, like California, the cost of gas hit $5.50 yesterday. This means that the average cost of filling the tank of a midsize SUV in the U.S has risen by around $15 so far during the Iran crisis, and further increases are possible as we continue to see a pass through from higher crude oil. Then good news is that gas accounts for just 3% of total consumer spending according to weights used in the CPI basket, around half the share seen a decade ago on account of lower prices and shifting consumption patterns. However, higher energy prices will be felt across other inflation components, with diesel prices, a key input for freight, agriculture and construction, rising above $5 per gallon for the first time since 2022. The hope is that a relatively short-lived spike in these costs will limit their size, persistence and economic/market implications.
   
• Central banks in focus – We will get a sense of central bank reactions to the oil price shock this week amid a flood of central bank meetings. The Fed will garner most attention, with markets having responded to the spike in oil prices by trimming expectations for interest rate cuts, with current pricing pointing to just one 25 basis point (0.25%) cut later this year. This is consistent with forecasts provided by FOMC members back in December, and it will be interesting to see if the committee's median forecast at this meeting continues to point to at least some further policy easing in 2026. We think a spike in short term inflation will make the Fed more cautious around cuts in coming months, but still see room for a cut later this year should oil prices moderate from here. Elsewhere, we look forward to central bank meetings in Europe (UK, Eurozone, Sweden) and Japan, with market attention turning to potential hikes in these markets. We suspect these central banks will tread carefully given the potential fragility of local growth to higher oil prices, even as inflation spikes in the short term. The same dynamic applies in Canada, where the Bank of Canada will meet this week, and we do not expect policy tightening this year given signs of weak domestic activity rates.

James McCann ;
Investment Strategy

^{Source for all data: Bloomberg, FactSet.}