From the Desk of Our CIO
Commodity Chaos: Cocoa Collapses & Copper Surges
Those with a sweet tooth breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as cocoa prices retreated from their nosebleed levels in the biggest one-day drop in 65 years. The violent collapse in prices sent the actively traded front month futures contract down -15.7%, effectively erasing most of the gains made in April. The meltdown was felt […]
From the Desk of Our CIO
Is It Time to Start Buying Duration?
At Viewpoint, we’ve been in the camp that the current macroeconomic backdrop isn’t conducive to the Federal Reserve (Fed) being able to skirt a recession and reduce interest rates back to a long-term equilibrium, all while inflation remains under control. This is what would otherwise be known as a “soft landing.” Back in March, I […]
Invested Newsletter
INVESTED: April Edition
WE’RE SWITCHING THINGS UP! Introducing the new and improved Invested! Now, in addition to the trusted insights from Viewpoint Investment Partners and the Viewpoint Foundation, we’re bringing you a curated selection of must-read articles and must-listen podcasts that have captured our attention over the past month. Dive into a diverse array of topics, spanning from market […]
From the Desk of Our CIO
The Buzz on Beans: From Cocoa to Coffee
The astonishing run for cocoa prices has yet to lose steam, with the commodity rising by +21.6% over the month of April, bringing the year-to-date gain to +223.3% as of April 19th. I wrote a note a little over a month ago about the supply issues in the cocoa industry that have caused the parabolic move […]
From the Desk of Our CIO
From Missiles to Metals: Market Volatility in the Face of Geopolitical Tensions
The initial shock from the retaliatory attack on Israel by Iran over the weekend had been well absorbed by markets when trading opened this morning. But as the day progressed, the prospects of rising geopolitical tensions weighed on risk appetite. The communication from Iran was that the barrage of ballistic, drone, and cruise missiles was […]
From the Desk of Our CIO
Economic Crossroads: Inflation, Oil Markets, and Central Bank Dilemmas
Financial markets hit another speed bump this morning, with U.S. inflation coming in warmer than anticipated. Both headline and core consumer prices surprised to the upside, with headline CPI increasing by +3.5% relative to one year ago, missing expectations of a +3.4% increase and up from February’s +3.2% reading. Housing and gasoline costs contributed more […]
From the Desk of Our CIO
Trump, Trade, and the Greenback
Friday’s blockbuster U.S. employment report may have upended the bond market’s optimism that monetary policy easing will begin in June as the labour market in the U.S. refuses to soften. The U.S. labour market added 303k new jobs in March, close to 100k more than had been expected. The unemployment rate fell to +3.8% from […]
From the Desk of Our CIO
Insights from The Francis Sabourin Hour Podcast
Check out this great podcast from The Francis Sabourin Hour Podcast! “We seem to be in the first few years of the latest commodities super-cycle.” Join me as I step into the world of commodities with Francis Sabourin on his podcast, The Francis Sabourin Hour (March 14th, 2024 edition). Tune in as we unravel where we […]
News & Insights
Nurturing Responsible Wealth Inheritors
— December 19, 2024 Edit — As the year comes to a close, we wanted to revisit a piece from our March issue of Invested: “Nurturing Responsible Wealth Inheritors.” This article explores the unique challenges and opportunities families face in preparing the next generation for responsible wealth stewardship. With 2024 behind us, it’s worth looking […]