July 13, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents:

See the subway as you never have before, through the lens of the M.T.A.’s recently retired official photographer. -The NY Times.

You can watch all of the recent presentations for Paris haute couture in one place. -The NY Times.

July 13, 1930 – First World Cup soccer championship.

On July 13, 1977, a 25-hour blackout hit the New York City area after lightning struck upstate power lines.  Go to article »

July 13, 1985 –  “Live Aid” concerts held at both Wembley Stadium (London) and John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia) raises over $70 million for African famine relief.

What a charming little particle! (h/t Scott Kominers) -Bloomberg.

The $30 million island mansion that Twitter and Netflix built.  -Bloomberg.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Bavaria, Bernbeuren: Morning mist clears over the foothills of the Alps at sunrise.
CREDIT: KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND/DPA

Comet Neowise captured in the sky in Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
CREDIT: ISLANDVISIONS/BNPS

The sun rises over the Baltic Sea in Timmendorfer Strand, northern Germany.
CREDIT: MICHAEL PROBST

Market Closes for July 13th , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
26085.80 +10.50
+0.04%
S&P 500 3155.22 -29.82
-0.94%
NASDAQ 10390.844 -226.599

-2.13%

TSX 15639.41 -74.41
-0.47%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22784.74 +493.93
+2.22%
HANG
SENG
25772.12 +44.71
+0.17%
SENSEX 36693.69 +99.36
+0.27%
FTSE 100* 6176.19 +80.78

+1.33%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.540 0.550
CND.
30 Year
Bond
1.064 1.072
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6184 0.6414
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.3109 1.3321

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73496 0.73541
US
$
1.36062 1.35979
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.54365 0.64781
US
$
1.13452 0.88143

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1803.10 1812.10
Oil
WTI Crude Future 40.10 40.55

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1852, Wells, Fargo & Co. opened for business in San Francisco and Sacramento. It was founded by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo to convert gold dust into cash for miners, as well as to transport and safeguard letters, gold nuggets and other valuable by-products of the California Gold Rush.
Canada
By Aoyon Ashraf
(Bloomberg) — Canadian shares pared their earlier gains to close lower, with the decline led by tech and materials stocks. The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.5% in Toronto. Tech, materials and industrials were among the worst performers, while the utilities sector was the best performer. U.S. stocks declined after the S&P 500 briefly touched the highest level since the coronavirus pandemic sent markets tumbling worldwide. Aphria Inc. was the best performing stock in the TSX composite after it was upgraded to buy from hold by Stifel, which said the Canadian cannabis company’s discounted multiple undervalues its improving growth prospects. The shares rose 8.9%. Canadian consumer confidence stalled last week for the first time in almost three months. The Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence Index, a weekly composite measure of financial health and economic expectations, was largely unchanged at 46.1 last week, from 46.2 a week earlier. That ends a 10-week streak of gains.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $7.40 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold rose 0.2% to $1,802.69 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar weakened 0.1% to C$1.3609 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield fell slightly to 0.539%

By Bloomberg Automation:
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite fell 0.5 percent at 15,639.41 in Toronto. The move was the biggest since falling 1.7 percent on June 26 and follows the previous session’s increase of 0.9 percent. Today, information technology stocks led the market lower, as 5 of 11 sectors lost; 113 of 221 shares fell, while 108 rose. Shopify Inc. contributed the most to the index decline, decreasing 6.2 percent. Ballard Power Systems Inc. had the largest drop, falling 10.9 percent.

Insights
* The index declined 5.1 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 4 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 13 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 40 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is little changed in the past 5 days and rose 2.5 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.6 on a trailing basis and 24.6 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.39t
* 30-day price volatility rose to 19.74 percent compared with 19.67 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.06 percent over the past month
================================================================
| Index Points | | Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Information Technology | -74.7479| -4.4| 2/8
Materials | -49.1461| -2.1| 10/40
Industrials | -11.8507| -0.7| 16/12
Consumer Discretionary | -2.1399| -0.4| 6/7
Consumer Staples | -1.5751| -0.2| 6/5
Real Estate | 0.4659| 0.1| 17/10
Health Care | 1.8489| 1.1| 6/3
Energy | 7.3462| 0.4| 9/15
Communication Services | 10.5479| 1.3| 5/3
Utilities | 12.3022| 1.6| 16/0
Financials | 32.5551| 0.7| 15/10

US
By Sarah Ponczek and Claire Ballentine
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks declined after the S&P 500 briefly touched the highest level since the coronavirus pandemic sent markets tumbling worldwide in March. Crude oil also turned lower. The main U.S. equity index stumbled in afternoon trading on signs the virus was throttling reopening plans in states like California. An increase in tensions with China also damaged sentiment. The measures had almost reclaimed a gain for the year before stumbling. It’s still down almost 7% from a Feb. 19 high. The volatility in the S&P also corresponded with prices swings in Tesla Inc., which is in the Nasdaq Composite. The Nasdaq hit another record high before closing in the red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the day slightly higher. “It’s remarkable how optimistic investors seem to be,” said John Carey, portfolio manager at Pioneer Investment Management. “But there are a lot of uncertainties remaining and it’s a little bit early to assume it’s going to be back to business as usual anytime soon.” Traders are awaiting reports this week from a slew of companies that have yet to provide concrete guidance on the impact of the virus. Shares of PepsiCo Inc. rose after the snack-maker reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter sales.
European stocks rose with government bond yields. Oil declined ahead of an OPEC+ meeting at which the group may announce plans to start tapering historic production cuts. With global stocks trading near their highest since February, the focus has turned to whether the profit outlook will back up bullishness fueled by central bank and fiscal policy support. Traders have largely shrugged off new coronavirus outbreaks in some parts of the world. California’s two biggest school districts said they would offer remote learning only in the fall despite calls by the Trump administration for classrooms to fully reopen. The state reported a record number of people hospitalized with coronavirus. There’s reason for optimism even though earnings are estimated to have contracted by more than 40% in the worst quarter since the financial crisis, as analysts upgrade their forecasts for the rest of the year. “The backdrop is positive for all sectors of the market,” said Gerry Sparrow, president of Sparrow Capital Management Inc. “The reason for that backdrop is that the recovery has taken hold, so jobs data, consumer credit, home building strength signaled that the economy has shifted in a positive direction.”
Here are some key events coming up:
* JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, BNY Mellon and Citigroup start the U.S. earnings season for banks.
* Wednesday brings the Bank of Japan’s policy decision and a Governor Haruhiko Kuroda briefing.
* The EIA crude oil inventory report is due Wednesday.
* China releases second-quarter GDP on Thursday as well as key economic indicators for June.
* The European Central Bank meets to set monetary policy on Thursday, with President Christine Lagarde holding a virtual press conference afterward.

These are the main moves in markets:
Stocks
The S&P 500 Index dipped 0.9% to 3,155.35 as of 4:00 p.m. New York time.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 26,086.34, the highest in a week.
The Nasdaq Composite Index dipped 2.1% to 10,390.84, the largest decrease in more than two weeks.
The MSCI All-Country World Index decreased 0.3% to 540.26.

Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1% to 1,210.52.
The euro increased 0.4% to $1.1349, the strongest in more than a month.
The Japanese yen weakened 0.3% to 107.24 per dollar, the largest drop in almost two weeks.

Bonds
The yield on two-year Treasuries was unchanged at 0.15%.
The yield on 30-year Treasuries decreased two basis points to 1.32%.
Germany’s 10-year yield gained five basis points to -0.42%, the highest in more than a week on the biggest advance in more than a week.

Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude decreased 2.1% to $39.69 a barrel.
Gold strengthened 0.2% to $1,803.18 an ounce.


Have a great night.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

During my eighty-seven years I have witnesses a whole succession of technological revolutions.
But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think.
                                                                                           -Bernard M. Baruch, 1870-1965

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

July 10, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents: Happy Friday.

If you miss travel, don’t read this. But read it anyway

On July 10, 1940, during World War II, the 114-day Battle of Britain began as Nazi forces began attacking southern England and shipping convoys in the English Channel by air. By late October, Britain managed to repel the Luftwaffe, which suffered heavy losses. Go to article »

1834~James M. whistler, painter, b.
1871~ Marcel Proust, writer, b.
1943~ Arthur Ashe, tennis player, b.
1985~ Rainbow Warrior sunk, Greenpeace.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

A pier is lit in the sunrise in Timmendorfer Strand at the Baltic Sea, northern Germany.
CREDIT: AP PHOTO/MICHAEL PROBST

The Neowise comet seen above noctilucent clouds taken from the Hochfeiler mountain in the South Tyrol alps in Italy. A fiery comet streaks across a silvery sky in this stunning image which captures two rare astronomical phenomena at the same time. The blazing three-mile-wide fireball is the Neowise comet which is currently passing 64 millions away from the earth in a once in a lifetime spectacle. The comet is captured streaking across a sky-layered with beautiful Noctilucent – or ‘night-shining’ clouds.
CREDIT: MARTIN RIETZE/SWNS.COM

A mother swallow feeds its young an insect at Rising Sun Country Park in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear.
CREDIT: GREN SOWERBY/SWNS.COM

Artist Anish Kapoor looks into his sculpture ‘Sky Mirror’ at Houghton Hall, King’s Lynn, UK, ahead of the opening of his largest UK exhibition of outdoor sculptures. The exhibition opens to the public on Sunday July 12 and runs until November 1 2020.
CREDIT: JOE GIDDENS/PA WIRE

Market Closes for July 10th , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
26075.30 +369.21
+1.44%
S&P 500 3185.04 +32.99
+1.05%
NASDAQ 10617.445 +69.695

+0.66%

TSX 15713.82 +145.18
+0.93%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22290.81 -238.48
-1.06%
HANG
SENG
25727.41 -482.75
-1.84%
SENSEX 36594.33 -143.36
-0.39%
FTSE 100* 6095.41 +45.79

+0.76%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.550 0.531
CND.
30 Year
Bond
1.072 1.077
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6414 0.6070
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.3321 1.3096

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73541 0.73601
US
$
1.35979 1.35868
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.53640 0.65087
US
$
1.12988 0.88505

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1812.10 1811.10
Oil
WTI Crude Future 40.55 39.62

Market Commentary:
Gold futures again crossed $1,800 this week, hovering at levels last seen in 2011. They traded as high as $1,829 Wednesday, putting their all-time high of $1,888.70 within reach.
Gold’s appeal is as a hedge against two things: inflation and, well, apocalypse (i.e. “flight to safety”).  Gold’s peaks tend to coincide with red-letter Bad Times. It’s important, though, to look at what happened after those peaks. In January 1980, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 876. One decade and an economic boom later, it was at 2700. In September 2011 it was around 10900. One decade and a long economic expansion later, and it closed at 25706 on Thursday. -WSJ.
Canada
By Bloomberg Automation
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite rose 0.9 percent at 15,713.82 in Toronto. The move was the biggest since rising 1.3 percent on June 29 and follows the previous session’s decrease of 0.4 percent. Royal Bank of Canada contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 2.0 percent. Enerplus Corp. had the largest increase, rising 8.9 percent. Today, 149 of 221 shares rose, while 71 fell; 9 of 11 sectors were higher, led by financials stocks.

Insights
* So far this week, the index rose 0.8 percent
* The index declined 5.1 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 5.7 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 12.6 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 40.6 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.7 on a trailing basis and 24.7 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.37t
* 30-day price volatility rose to 19.67 percent compared with 19.58 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.07 percent over the past month
================================================================
| Index Points | | Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Financials | 84.6553| 1.9| 22/3
Energy | 26.6990| 1.4| 21/3
Industrials | 14.1620| 0.8| 16/12
Communication Services | 8.8850| 1.1| 7/1
Consumer Discretionary | 8.7970| 1.7| 12/1
Utilities | 8.6887| 1.1| 13/3
Consumer Staples | 4.4883| 0.7| 7/3
Health Care | 3.6454| 2.3| 7/2
Real Estate | 2.9314| 0.6| 21/6
Materials | -4.8874| -0.2| 21/29
Information Technology | -12.8717| -0.8| 2/8

US
By Vildana Hajric
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks gained as signs that the world could be closer to an effective treatment for Covid-19 blunted concerns that a rising number of cases will curb the global economic recovery. Banks led the S&P 500 Index higher as the gauge extended its weekly gain to 1.8%. The broader index outperformed the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 on Friday for the first time in almost two weeks. Gilead Sciences Inc. advanced after reporting its Remdesivir treatment cut Covid-19 mortality risk by 62%, helping to ease concern about spreading infections. Oil rallied past $40 a barrel. European shares advanced. Treasuries reversed a gain that had pushed the five-year yield to a record low. With record deaths across America, as well as fears of a second wave in Asia, the spotlight is back on the outlook for the coronavirus as investors head into the weekend. Fiscal and monetary stimulus has buoyed markets thus far, but investors are looking for signals on what additional support may be in the works. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan, speaking on Fox Business, said he sees the need for more fiscal outlays. “The equity rally can continue,” said Ben Kirby, co-head of investments and portfolio manager at Thornburg Investment Management, which has about $40 billion in assets under management. “We have too much liquidity in the system, and more in the pipeline.” Elsewhere, China shares dropped as selling by state-backed funds signaled authorities wanted to slow the pace of gains following the Shanghai Composite’s eight-day winning run.
These are the main moves in markets:

Stocks
* The S&P 500 Index rose 1% as of 4 p.m. New York time.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 0.9%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dipped 1.1%.
* The MSCI Emerging Market Index sank 0.9%.

Currencies
* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.1%.
* The euro rose 0.1% to $1.1301.
* The British pound rose 0.2% to $1.2629.
* The Japanese yen strengthened 0.3% to 106.93 per dollar.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose two basis points to 0.64%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield declined one basis point to -0.47%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield declined one basis point to 0.15%.

Commodities
* West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.3% to $40.53 a barrel.
* Gold fell 0.2% to $1,799.72 an ounce.
–With assistance from Gregor Stuart Hunter, Adam Haigh, David
Wilson, Ravil Shirodkar, Yakob Peterseil and Robert Brand

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

Four things come not back:
the spoken word, the spent arrow,
the past, the neglected opportunity.
        -Omar Ibn Al-Halif, 584-644

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

July 9, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents:
The Kyoto Aquarium has compiled a complex flow chart depicting the relationships among its penguins. –The NY Times.

“The Far Side” cartoonist Gary Larson has shared his first new work in 25 years. –The NY Times.

Who wouldn’t want to WFH … from Barbados? –Bloomberg.

1893~First successful open-heart surgery.
1964~Courtney Love, singer, b.
1956~Tom Hanks, actor, b.
1879~Otto Respighi, composer, b.
1856~Nikola Tesla, b.
PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Cows grazing near lentil fields and blooming poppy flowers near Castelluccio, a small village in central Italy’s Umbria region.
CREDIT: TIZIANA FABI/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Mosaic artist Mervan Altinorak is turning scrap metal into human sculpture in Hatay, Turkey. The mosaic artist living in Reyhanli district of Hatay province made a human bust by using metal, plastic and electronic card wastes to raise awareness to environmental pollution.
CREDIT: CEM GENCO/ANADOLU AGENCY VIA GETTY IMAGES

A crop of strawberries stands illuminated by a Thorvald autonomous modular robot, developed by Saga Robotics, as it performs an Ultra-Violet (UV) light treatment on a crop of strawberries during robotics trials organized by a U.K. agri-food consortium at Clock House Farm Ltd., near Maidstone, U.K
CREDIT: HOLLIE ADAMS/BLOOMBERG
Market Closes for July 9th , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
25706.09 -361.19
-1.39%
S&P 500 3152.05 -17.89
-0.56%
NASDAQ 10547.750 +55.250

+0.53%

TSX 15568.64 -60.55
-0.39%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22529.29 +90.64
+0.40%
HANG
SENG
26210.16 +80.98
+0.31%
SENSEX 36737.69 +408.68
+1.12%
FTSE 100* 6049.62 -106.54

-1.73%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.531 0.575
CND.
30 Year
Bond
1.077 1.097
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6070 0.6644
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.3096 1.3996

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73601 0.73976
US
$
1.35868 1.35179
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.53320 0.65223
US
$
1.12845 0.88617

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1811.10 1789.55
Oil
WTI Crude Future 39.62 40.90

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1877, Alexander Graham Bell and three partners formed the Bell Telephone Co. as a “voluntary association” with 5,000 shares of stock; Bell gave 1,407 of his 1,507 shares to his new wife, Mabel, just weeks later.
Canada
By Michael Bellusci
(Bloomberg) — Canadian equities fell Thursday on concerns of higher coronavirus counts. U.S. cases rose 2%, higher than the average daily increase.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index lost 0.4%, with seven of 11 sectors lower. Energy was the worst performing group as oil tumbled. Information technology gained as Shopify Inc. rose 2.9%.
WTI crude fell to its lowest level in more than a week as a resurgence in coronavirus cases and impending U.S.layoffs darken the economic outlook.
Meanwhile, a Bloomberg News poll taken at the end of June by Nanos Research found that only 30% of Canadians who either lost their job or were working reduced hours because of the pandemic were re-employed or working more.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $8.30 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold fell 0.3% to $1,803 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar weakened 0.6% to C$1.3590 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield fell 4.5 basis points to 0.53%

By Bloomberg Automation:
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite fell 0.4 percent at 15,568.64 in Toronto. The index dropped to the lowest closing level since June 30 after the previous session’s increase of 0.2 percent.
Toronto-Dominion Bank contributed the most to the index decline, decreasing 2.6 percent. Methanex Corp. had the largest drop, falling 5.1 percent.
Today, 145 of 221 shares fell, while 70 rose; 7 of 11 sectors were lower, led by financials stocks.

Insights
* So far this week, the index was little changed
* The index declined 5.9 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 5.1 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 13.4 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 39.3 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is down 0.3 percent in the past 5 days and fell 1.7 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.5 on a trailing basis and 24.5 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.38t
* 30-day price volatility rose to 19.58 percent compared with 19.53 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.09 percent over the past month
================================================================
| Index Points | |
Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Financials | -58.8915| -1.3| 2/23
Energy | -28.6090| -1.5| 4/20
Utilities | -9.7600| -1.2| 3/13
Real Estate | -5.2336| -1.1| 4/22
Communication Services | -4.3521| -0.5| 2/6
Consumer Discretionary | -3.1317| -0.6| 2/11
Health Care | -2.1462| -1.3| 1/8
Materials | 4.6293| 0.2| 30/16
Industrials | 5.3646| 0.3| 12/16
Consumer Staples | 8.4410| 1.3| 3/8
Information Technology | 33.1350| 2.0| 7/2

US
By Vivien Lou Chen and Vildana Hajric
(Bloomberg) — U.S. equities slumped on concern that a resurgence in coronavirus cases will derail the comeback for the world’s biggest economy. Oil dipped below $40 a barrel and Treasuries jumped.
Financial companies were among the worst performers on the S&P 500 Index as Wells Fargo & Co. prepared to cut thousands of jobs because of the pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average’s loss exceeded 1.3% as Boeing Co. dropped. The Nasdaq gauges advanced as big tech stocks rose. Long-term government bonds rallied following an auction for 30-year securities that showed strong demand.
Analysts are closely monitoring the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. and across the world, with record deaths in Florida and California seen as ominous signs. While optimists are betting that fiscal and monetary support will contain the fallout and cited jobs data Thursday that came in better than expected, others pointed out that the labor market is still treacherous.
“Sentiment clearly took a turn negative today, and the buildup of Covid-19 concerns seems to be the biggest issue,” said Larry Milstein, senior managing director of government debt trading at R.W. Pressprich & Co. Given that cases are also rising in Asia, “there’s a real concern that a second wave is approaching that will impact the global economy.”
Elsewhere, European shares joined the decline. Gold traded near $1,800 an ounce. West Texas oil slumped after swelling U.S. crude stockpiles raised fresh concerns about oversupply and a key Libyan field resumed production.
Chinese equities outperformed as the Shanghai Composite notched an eighth day of gains, helped by signals of official support and strong demand from retail traders.
Here are some key events coming up:
* Singapore holds its general election on Friday.

These are the main moves in markets:
Stocks
* The S&P 500 Index fell 0.6% as of 4 p.m. New York time.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.8%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.7%.
* The MSCI Emerging Market Index added 0.8%.

Currencies
* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.2%.
* The euro fell 0.4% to $1.1288.
* The British pound was little changed at $1.261.
* The Japanese yen was little changed at 107.22 per dollar.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries decreased six basis points to 0.61%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield fell two basis points to -0.47%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield sank two basis points to 0.16%.

Commodities
* West Texas Intermediate crude decreased 3.5% to $39.47 a barrel.
* Gold fell 0.3% to $1,803.25 an ounce.
–With assistance from Masaki Kondo, Adam Haigh, Michael Hunter, Yakob Peterseil, Claire Ballentine and Katherine Greifeld.

Have a great night.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up.
                                  -Babe Ruth, 1895-1948

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

July 8, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents:
Take a virtual tour of the Louvre in Paris. –The NY Times.

A new comet is now visible with the naked eye 
Now that 4th of July fireworks have subsided, how about gazing at space fireworks instead-CNN.

Hummingbirds can “count their way” to food. (h/t Scott Kominers), Bloomberg.

John D. Rockefeller, financier, b. 1839.
Anna Quindlen, writer, b. 1953
Anjelica Huston, actor, b. 1953

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Artwork created by long exposures and lights on a drone illuminates a windmill near Christer in West Sussex. The photograph is one of a set capturing landmarks on the south coast.
CREDIT: BEAR MARTIN/TRIANGLE NEWS

A view from the top of Russia’s Gorely Volcano, 1,829 metres above sea level.
CREDIT: ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY/ ALAMY LIVE NEWS

A Tenggerese woman worshipper carries a chicken as prepare to throw as offerings during the Yadnya Kasada Festival at crater of Mount Bromo in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia.
CREDIT: ULET IFANSASTI/ GETTY IMAGES
Market Closes for July 8th , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
26067.28 +177.10
+0.68%
S&P 500 3169.94 +24.62
+0.78%
NASDAQ 10492.500 +148.611

+1.44%

TSX 15629.19 +33.69
+0.22%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22438.65 -176.04
-0.78%
HANG
SENG
26129.18 +153.52
+0.59%
SENSEX 36329.01 -345.51
-0.94%
FTSE 100* 6156.16 -33.74

-0.55%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.575 0.511
CND.
30 Year
Bond
1.097 0.989
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6644 0.6397
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.3996 1.3748

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73976 0.73507
US
$
1.35179 1.36042
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.53163 0.65290
US
$
1.13304 0.88258

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1789.55 1787.90
Oil
WTI Crude Future 40.90 40.62

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1889, the first issue of The Wall Street Journal was published by Charles Henry Dow, Edward Davis Jones and Charles M. Bergstresser.
Canada
By Michael Bellusci
(Bloomberg) — Canadian equities rose Wednesday as shares of gold and silver companies advanced.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 0.2%. S&P/TSX Composite Materials Sector GICS Level 1 Index rose 2.1% to its highest since January 2013. The group gained for a third straight session.
Gold’s allure in 2020 continues to strengthen, with spot prices surpassing $1,800 an ounce and inflows into bullion- backed ETFs already topping the record full-year total set in 2009.
Justin Trudeau’s government said it will run a budget deficit equivalent to nearly 16% of economic output, a level not seen since World War II, in a race to safeguard Canada from its deepest recession in almost a century.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $7.65 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold rose 0.8% to $1,809 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar rose 0.7% to C$1.3509 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield rose 6.4 basis points to 0.570%

By Bloomberg Automation:
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite rose 0.2 percent at 15,629.19 in Toronto. The move follows the previous session’s decrease of 0.5 percent. Barrick Gold Corp. contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 2.0 percent. Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. had the largest increase, rising 10.5 percent.
Today, 101 of 221 shares rose, while 115 fell; 4 of 11 sectors were higher, led by materials stocks.

Insights
* The index declined 5.1 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 5.8 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 13 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 39.9 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is up 0.7 percent in the past 5 days and fell 2.2 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.5 on a trailing basis and 24.6 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.37t
* 30-day price volatility fell to 19.53 percent compared with 19.65 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.10 percent over the past month
================================================================
| Index Points | |
Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Materials | 47.9265| 2.1| 39/11
Industrials | 11.4354| 0.6| 17/10
Information Technology | 6.3637| 0.4| 7/2
Financials | 4.5835| 0.1| 17/8
Consumer Discretionary | -0.1181| 0.0| 5/8
Consumer Staples | -0.6946| -0.1| 1/10
Real Estate | -2.8617| -0.6| 6/19
Utilities | -3.8401| -0.5| 6/10
Health Care | -4.2675| -2.6| 2/7
Communication Services | -8.1139| -1.0| 1/7
Energy | -16.7236| -0.9| 0/23

US
By Vildana Hajric and Sarah Ponczek
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks rose as investors looked past tensions between Washington and Beijing and sought out tech companies thought to be insulated from rising coronavirus infections.
The S&P 500 Index climbed to a one-month high, while advances in high flying megacaps like Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. sent the Nasdaq Composite to a record. HSBC Holdings Plc slumped after a report that some of President Donald Trump’s advisers proposed a move to destabilize Hong Kong’s currency peg to punish China. Banks led European stocks lower.
Gold topped $1,800 an ounce, while Treasury yields inched higher and the dollar slumped. Analysts are debating what comes next for the U.S. economy as states allow businesses to re-open, but with much of the world stuck at home, investors have been bidding up tech shares.
That pattern appeared again Wednesday, with pandemic-sensitive sectors like airlines sinking even as online names held up.
“While the market largely reflects investor optimism, the Covid situation is seemingly evolving by the hour and we’ve also reintroduced trade tensions to the mix, so there’s a bunch to digest,” said Mike Loewengart, managing director of investment strategy at E*Trade Financial.
Many Americans Plan to Spend Less Than Before the Virus Struck. Tensions between the U.S. and China have been growing after Beijing asserted broad new powers to rein in opposition in Hong Kong, pouring cold water over hopes the world’s largest economies will patch up relations soured by a lingering trade spat. Stocks in Shanghai powered ahead for a seventh day. Investors have been drawn to China’s markets amid efforts by regulators to boost the attractiveness of stocks and hopes for an economic recovery.
Signals pertaining to the coronavirus have been mixed in recent days and weeks. The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. surpassed 3 million Wednesday, with data showing a 2% increase in cases nationally. However, the fatality rate has remained low, a data point flagged by optimists.
“We’re sitting here kind of saying, ‘Well what comes next?’ And it’s not really clear,” said Kathy Jones, chief fixed-income strategist for the Schwab Center for Financial Research. “There’s a lot of question marks about how will this play out in the second half.”
Here are some key events coming up:
* All eyes will be on the U.S. weekly jobless claims report on Thursday.
* Singapore holds its general election on Friday.

These are the main moves in markets:
Stocks
* The S&P 500 Index rose 0.8% as of 4 p.m. New York time.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index declined 0.7%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.7%.

Currencies
* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index dipped 0.5%.
* The euro advanced 0.5% to $1.1329.
* The Japanese yen gained 0.3% to 107.24 per dollar.
* The British pound rose 0.6% to $1.2612.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose one basis point to 0.65%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield declined one basis point to -0.44%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield was little changed at 0.18%.

Commodities
* West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.6% to $40.84 a barrel.
* Gold strengthened 0.8% to $1,809.32 an ounce.
–With assistance from Sophie Caronello, Constantine Courcoulas, Katherine Greifeld and Claire Ballentine.

Have a great night.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.
                                                              –Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965.

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

July 7, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,
Tangents:
The seamstresses of Chanel, Dior and more formed a network to make face masks in quarantine. They’re not done working together. -The NY Times.

An Italian glacier is turning pink
Unfortunately, “watermelon snow” is not as fun as it sounds. -CNN

Meet the ‘tiny bug slayer,’ an ancient relative of giant dinosaurs
You’d think the ancestors of dinosaurs would sound a bit more formidable.-CNN.

How does Earth sustain its magnetic field? -Bloomberg.

Who’s hungry for some 3D-printed steak? (h/t Mike Smedley)-Bloomberg.

1860 – Gustav Mahler, composer, b.
1887 – Marc Chagall, artist, b.
1907 – Robert A. Heinlein, writer, b.
1940 – Ringo Starr, musician, b.
1954 – Elvis Presley made his radio debut when Memphis, Tenn., station WHBQ played his first recording for Sun Records, “That’s All Right.” Go to article >>
PHOTOS OF THE DAY

An amateur photographer waited five hours to snap these amazing pictures of an osprey rising from the water clutching its next meal. Alan Wemyss, 55, captured the dramatic snaps while on an early morning shoot at a bird hide in Aviemore, Scottish Highlands. Alan, a joiner, from Inverness, Scottish Highlands, was at the lookout spot at Aviemore Ospreys from 4am until 9am, patiently waiting to photograph the bird. The osprey’s massive wingspan and piercing yellow eyes can be seen as it carries off the catch.
CREDIT: ALAN WEMYSS/SWNS.COM

Full “Buck” Moon rising over Roker Lighthouse in Sunderland, UK.
CREDIT: SIMON WOODLEY/SWNS

A woman walks past a printing by Chinese artist Fang Lijun titled “2002,1.1” during a Sotheby’s auction exhibition in Hong Kong.
CREDIT: AP PHOTO/VINCENT YU
Market Closes for July 7th , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
25890.18 -396.85
-1.51%
S&P 500 3145.32 -34.40
-1.08%
NASDAQ 10343.891 -89.759

-0.86%

TSX 15595.50 -74.17
-0.47%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22614.69 -99.75
-0.44%
HANG
SENG
25975.66 -363.50
-1.38%
SENSEX 36674.52 +187.24
+0.51%
FTSE 100* 6189.90 -96.04

-1.53%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.511 0.547
CND.
30 Year
Bond
0.989 1.015
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6397 0.6759
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.3748 1.4398

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73507 0.73856
US
$
1.36042 1.35399
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.53357 0.65207
US
$
1.12728 0.88709

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1787.90 1772.90
Oil
WTI Crude Future 40.62 40.63

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1993, Charles W. Knapp was found guilty on three counts of conspiracy after his savings & loan empire collapsed, costing the U.S. taxpayer $2 billion. Knapp’s American Savings & Loan Association was once the nation’s largest thrift, but it was seized by federal regulators in 1984 and later settled a U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission lawsuit charging it with fraudulent overstating of earnings
Canada
By Michael Bellusci
(Bloomberg) — Canadian equities fell Tuesday alongside global stock markets amid jitters about the pace of economic
recovery from the pandemic.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.5%, with nine of eleven sectors lower. Materials and information technology gained.
Spot gold advanced to a more than eight-year high, recovering from earlier losses as the dollar pared gains and simmering economic concerns boosted demand for the metal as a haven.
Meanwhile, this week’s escalation of American pipeline setbacks is heightening concerns among Canadian oil producers, which export almost all of their crude to the U.S.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $7.30 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold rose 0.6% to $1,796.09 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar fell 0.5% to C$1.3609 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield fell 3.6 basis points to 0.506%

By Bloomberg Automation:
     (Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite fell 0.5 percent at 15,595.50 in Toronto. The move was the biggest since falling 1.7 percent on June 26 and follows the previous session’s increase of 0.5 percent.
Toronto-Dominion Bank contributed the most to the index decline, decreasing 1.6 percent. Enerplus Corp. had the  largest drop, falling 7.0 percent.
Today, 160 of 221 shares fell, while 61 rose; 9 of 11 sectors were lower, led by financials stocks.

Insights
* The index declined 5.7 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 4.4 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 13.2 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 39.6 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is up 1.3 percent in the past 5 days and fell 1.6 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.5 on a trailing basis and 24.5 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.38t
* 30-day price volatility rose to 19.65 percent compared with 19.60 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.13 percent over the past month
================================================================
| Index Points | |
Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Financials | -81.6067| -1.8| 1/24
Energy | -26.9123| -1.4| 2/22
Consumer Discretionary | -10.0719| -1.9| 0/13
Industrials | -7.4218| -0.4| 6/22
Utilities | -6.2750| -0.8| 4/12
Communication Services | -6.0034| -0.7| 1/7
Real Estate | -4.1369| -0.8| 6/21
Health Care | -2.8963| -1.7| 1/8
Consumer Staples | -2.0892| -0.3| 2/9
Information Technology | 27.3269| 1.7| 2/8
Materials | 45.9134| 2.0| 36/14

US
By Amena Saad and Claire Ballentine
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks slumped, with airlines and hotels particularly hard hit, amid signs that the world economy has a long way to go to get back on track.
Almost six shares fell on the S&P 500 Index for every one that gained. The tech-heavy Nasdaq gauges dropped from a record intraday high in the afternoon as heavyweights such as Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. turned lower. European shares slipped on concern the economy will take longer to recover. Gold climbed to the highest since 2011. The dollar strengthened and Treasury yields dipped. Brazil’s currency and stocks slumped as President Jair Bolsonaro said he had tested positive for Covid-19.
Stock investors took a breather after a ferocious rally that fueled the S&P 500’s best winning streak this year. While data show the global economy may be past the worst of the slump, it’s a long road back to pre-crisis levels. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said the renewed spread of coronavirus may threaten the pace of the recovery as businesses and consumers put plans on hold.
After “a five-day rally where the market’s up quite a bit, it’s not so surprising to have a little bit of a pause,” said Jeff Mills, the chief investment officer at Bryn Mawr Trust Co. “It’s just sort of the natural movements of the market. You can’t go up in a straight line every single day.”
The European Commission gave its starkest warning yet about the impact of the pandemic. Officials now forecast a contraction of 8.7% in the euro area this year, a full percentage point deeper than previously predicted. Novavax Inc. surged after it was awarded $1.6 billion in U.S. funding to support large-scale manufacturing of its vaccine candidate.
Elsewhere, most Asian shares dropped, even as Chinese stocks powered ahead for a sixth day, although at a slower pace.
The offshore yuan briefly strengthened through the 7 per dollar level for the first time since March.
Here are some key events coming up:
* The EIA crude oil inventory report comes Wednesday.
* All eyes will be on the U.S. weekly jobless claims report on Thursday.
* Singapore holds its general election on Friday.

These are the main moves in markets:
Stocks
* The S&P 500 Index fell 1.1% as of 4 p.m. New York time.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index sank 0.6%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index declined 0.7%.
* The MSCI Emerging Market Index decreased 0.9%.

Currencies
* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index gained 0.4%.
* The euro decreased 0.3% to $1.1274.
* The British pound rose 0.4% to $1.2543.
* The Japanese yen weakened 0.2% to 107.55 per dollar.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries dipped four basis points to 0.64%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield was little changed at -0.43%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield sank two basis points to 0.18%.

Commodities
* West Texas Intermediate oil fell 0.8% to $40.32 a barrel.
* Gold rose 0.7% to $1,796.73 an ounce.
–With assistance from Cormac Mullen and Yakob Peterseil.

Have a great night.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

One truth stands firm.  All that happens in world history rests on something spiritual.
If the spiritual is strong, it creates world history.  If it is weak, it suffers world history.
                                                                         -Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

July 6 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents:
1854:  Republican Party formed in the US.
George W. Busch, 43rd President, b. 1946.
Janet Leigh, actor, b. 1927.
Frida Kahlo, artist, b. 1907.

What is it like dressing as 18th-century royalty for a week? –The New York Times.

The town of Henderson, Minn., made famous by a scene in the movie “Purple Rain,” has unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Prince. – from The NY Times.

A hot new album just dropped from the Dalai Lama, who turns 85 today. The recording features his teachings and mantras set to music.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

A Super Marine Spitfire belonging to the Aircraft Restoration Company based at Imperial War Museum, Duxford flies over Cambridgeshire making the 72nd anniversary of the NHS.
CREDIT: PIXEL8000

A San Diego lifeguard rescues a man at Windansea Beach in La Jolla as high surf pounded the Southern California coast.
CREDIT: K C ALFRED/ZUMA WIRE/SHUTTERSTOCK

People play footvolley at the beach in Tel Aviv, Isreal.
CREDIT: AP PHOTO/ODED BALILTY

Market Closes for July 6th , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
26287.03 +459.67
+1.78%
S&P 500 3179.72 +49.71
+1.59%
NASDAQ 10433.652 +226.023

+2.21%

TSX 15669.67 +72.92
+0.47%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22714.44 +966.04
+3.81%
HANG
SENG
26339.16 +966.04
+3.81%
SENSEX 36487.28 +456.86
+1.29%
FTSE 100* 6285.94 +128.64

+2.09%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.547 0.558
CND.
30 Year
Bond
1.015 1.007
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6759 0.6693
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.4398 1.4272

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73856 0.73785
US
$
1.35399 1.35529
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.53131 0.65303
US
$
1.13096 0.88420

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1772.90 1777.45
Oil
WTI Crude Future 40.63 40.65

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1785, Congress declared that “the money unit of the United States of America be one dollar,”  and adopted a decimal coinage.
Canada
By Aoyon Ashraf
(Bloomberg) — Canadian shares started the week on a positive note, led by health care and consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 0.5% in Toronto. U.S. stocks also jumped, with gains in tech shares pushing the Nasdaq Composite to a record high. Investors in Canada are piling back into exchange-traded funds at levels not seen since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Canadian ETFs attracted net flows of C$4 billion ($3 billion) in June, the most since February. Canadian business sentiment has fallen to its lowest level since the 2008-2009 recession as sales slow and uncertainty about future growth remains elevated, according to a survey of executives released Monday by the Bank of Canada. Meanwhile, hedge funds and health-care specialist money managers were among those that were the most burned by bets in small-cap Canadian drug developer Bellus Health Inc. when its most important drug — aimed at fighting chronic cough – failed a mid-stage study. The stock fell 72% on Monday.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $7.40 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold rose 0.6% to $1,786.55 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar was little changed at C$1.3539 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield edged lower to 0.549%

By Bloomberg Automation:
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite rose 0.5 percent at 15,669.67 in Toronto. The index advanced to the highest closing level since June 10 after the previous session’s decrease of 0.2 percent. Royal Bank of Canada contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 1.4 percent. Ballard Power Systems Inc. had the largest increase, rising 9.1 percent. Today, 164 of 221 shares rose, while 54 fell; 8 of 11 sectors were higher, led by financials stocks.

Insights
* The index declined 5.3 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 5.5 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 12.8 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 40.2 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is up 3.2 percent in the past 5 days and fell 1.2 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.6 on a trailing basis and 24.6 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.37t
* 30-day price volatility fell to 19.60 percent compared with 19.78 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.15 percent over the past month
================================================================
| Index Points | | Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Financials | 47.2120| 1.1| 24/1
Materials | 36.9670| 1.6| 45/5
Industrials | 14.8853| 0.8| 21/7
Consumer Discretionary | 9.9413| 1.9| 11/2
Consumer Staples | 5.2615| 0.8| 11/0
Health Care | 5.2015| 3.2| 6/2
Utilities | 4.3635| 0.6| 12/3
Real Estate | 2.5314| 0.5| 13/13
Communication Services | -5.8946| -0.7| 0/8
Energy | -14.6813| -0.8| 12/12
Information Technology | -32.8744| -2.0| 9/1

US
By Vildana Hajric and Claire Ballentine
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks jumped, with gains in tech shares pushing the Nasdaq Composite to a record high. The dollar fell for a fifth day and Treasuries dipped. The S&P 500 Index posted its fifth-straight increase, its longest winning streak since December, as Amazon.com Inc. shares rose past $3,000 for the first time. Tesla Inc. extended a five- day rally to more than 40%. The dollar slid to the weakest since June 10 as risk-on sentiment sapped demand for havens. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 1.6% while developing- nation stocks added 2.5% as a huge rally in Chinese markets pushed a global equity benchmark toward a one-month high. Stock markets started the week in an upbeat mood after a front-page editorial in China’s Securities Times on Monday said that fostering a “healthy” bull market after the pandemic is now more important to the economy than ever. The Shanghai Composite Index posted its biggest advance since 2015, fueling bullish spirits around the world, even as investors kept a wary eye on the coronavirus infections sweeping across parts of the U.S.

“Investors have recognized that as bad as the economy in the U.S. is, it’s not as bad as what people thought it would look like in March and April,” said Nancy Prial, the co-chief executive officer at Essex Investment Management. “The market has started to sense we might see better than anticipated results fairly broadly across a wide spread of companies.” The MSCI World Index is now at the highest level since early June, with investors putting their faith in an economic recovery powered by historic government stimulus. But of course there’s a long way to go before the economy gets back to normal. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut estimates for U.S. growth this quarter and said consumer spending appears likely to stall this month and next. Still, economists led by Jan Hatzius said other economies have proved it’s possible to resume activity and changes in behavior such as wearing masks will help too.
     Elsewhere, copper was on the cusp of erasing this year’s losses after virus-related disruptions tightened supplies. Precious metals advanced. Alicia Levine, chief strategist at BNY Mellon Investment Management, said she’s telling clients to stay in the stock market amid stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve and U.S. government. “That is still our message,” Levine said in an interview on Bloomberg TV and Radio. “It’s extraordinary. I think we’re all scratching our heads, but the market is telling me you’ve got to be in it.”
Here are some key events coming up:
* The EIA crude oil inventory report comes Wednesday.
* All eyes will be on the U.S. weekly jobless claims report on Thursday.
* Singapore holds its general election on Friday.

These are the main moves in markets:
Stocks
* The S&P 500 Index increased 1.6% at the close of trading in New York.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 1.6%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 2.2%.
* The MSCI Emerging Market Index climbed 2.6%.

Currencies
* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index declined 0.3%.
* The euro gained 0.5% to $1.1307.
* The British pound rose 0.1% to $1.2492.
* The Japanese yen rose 0.1% to 107.37 per dollar.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose one basis points to 0.68%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield was little changed at -0.44%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield rose one basis point to 0.2%.

Commodities
* West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.1% to $40.61 a barrel.
* Gold strengthened 0.6% to $1,786.44 an ounce.
* Copper rose 1.4% to $2.786 per pound.
–With assistance from Amanda Wang, Charlie Zhu, Adam Haigh and Sid Verma.


Have a great night.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

Habits change into character.
           -Ovid, 43 BC-18 AD

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

July 3, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents: Happy Friday.  Full moon this weekend!
The next full Moon will occur on Sunday, July 5, 2020, at 12:44AM ET, and is known as the Full Buck Moon. It is also known as the Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, or the Wort Moon.

Battle of Gettysburg, largest battle every fought on the American continent, ends in a major victory for the Union during the US Civil War:
On July 3, 1863, the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended after three days in a major victory for the North as Confederate troops retreated.  Go to article »

The Golden Gate Bridge’s neighbors have a problem: The bridge fancies itself a singer, but it’s terrible.The Seattle Times.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY
A field of lavender in Puimoisson, southern France
CREDIT: THE TELEGRAPH, July 3, 2020

A White-naped Crane chick hatched at Birdland, Bourton- on the Water in the Cotswolds.
The birds, native to Mongolia and central Asia, have built their nest on the river Windrush that runs through the park that recently reopened following the pandemic. The vulnerable species has only approximately 5000 individual birds left in the wild, the pair at Birdland are part of a European breeding program.
CREDIT: MIKAL LUDLOW PHOTOGRAPHY

A tourist walking among a lotus pond in Shuangxi districts, in New Taipei City
CREDIT: SAM THE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Market Closes for July 3rd , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
Closed N.A
S&P 500 Closed N.A
NASDAQ Closed N.A
TSX 15622.40 +107.18
+0.69%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22306.48 +160.52
+0.72%
HANG
SENG
25373.12 +248.93
+0.99%
SENSEX 36021.42 +177.72
+0.50%
FTSE 100* 6157.30 -83.06

-1.33%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.558 0.560
CND.
30 Year
Bond
1.007 1.012
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6693 0.6693
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.4272 1.4272

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73785 0.73699
US
$
1.35529 1.35686
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.52385 0.65623
US
$
1.12438 0.88938

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1777.45 1771.05
Oil
WTI Crude Future 40.65 40.65

Market Commentary:
Canada
By Michael Bellusci
(Bloomberg) — Canadian shares snapped a three-day winning streak and fell Friday amid subdued trading as U.S. markets stayed shut for Independence Day holiday.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.2%, with most sectors posting declines for the day. Cannabis stocks were among laggards as Organigram Inc. announced layoffs and said it expects to post a decline in net revenue for the fiscal third quarter. The benchmark still posted a weekly gain.
Oil slipped on Friday, paring a weekly gain, as concern of demand erosion from a coronavirus resurgence countered strong U.S. economic data. Construction on the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline has begun in Canada, and the premier of the nation’s top oil- producing province says the project’s momentum may make it
difficult for a future U.S. administration to cancel it.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is suspending Canada’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong, making it the first country to break law enforcement links with the former British colony since China tightened its control over the territory.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $9.00 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,777 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar rose 0.1% to C$1.3554 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield edged lower to 0.557%

By Bloomberg Automation:
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite fell 0.2 percent at 15,596.75 in Toronto. The move follows the previous session’s increase of 0.7 percent.
Shopify Inc. contributed the most to the index decline, decreasing 0.7 percent. Ero Copper Corp. had the largest drop, falling 4.6 percent.
Today, 130 of 222 shares fell, while 89 rose; 7 of 11 sectors were lower, led by information technology stocks.

Insights
* So far this week, the index rose 2.7 percent
* The index declined 5.9 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 3.7 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 13.2 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 39.6 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.5 on a trailing basis and 24.5 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.37t
* 30-day price volatility rose to 19.78 percent compared with 19.76 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.13 percent over the past month
================================================================
|Index Points | |
Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Information Technology | -7.8117| -0.5| 5/5
Industrials | -5.9900| -0.3| 14/14
Financials | -3.6614| -0.1| 9/16
Utilities | -2.2414| -0.3| 6/10
Health Care | -2.1670| -1.3| 2/7
Materials | -1.9724| -0.1| 24/27
Energy | -0.4581| 0.0| 9/14
Real Estate | 0.0000| 2.8| 5/20
Consumer Discretionary | 0.2785| 0.1| 3/10
Communication Services | 1.7064| 0.2| 4/4
Consumer Staples | 1.8574| 0.3| 8/3

US
All US markets were closed today for the Independence Day holiday.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion.
People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love
comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
                                                                                                   -Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

July 2, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents: It’s  Halfway Day- 182nd day of the year!

1776: Declaration of Independence, USA.

The glorious “Hamilton” comes to our living rooms tomorrow. It’s a dream to watch, critic Moira Macdonald writes in her roundup of new must-see streaming offers.The Seattle Times.

Still-forming planet looks like flapping bat wings around a star. –Ellen Kominers, Bloomberg.

Monstrous black hole found devouring about one sun every day. -Bloomberg.

On July 2, 1937, aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight at the equator. Go to article »

The jaunty song of the white-throated sparrow, above, plays on loop across North America, sounding something like “Old Sam Peabody-Peabody-Peabody.”  But it seems that Canadian sparrows want to sing something new. A study that took 20 years of research tracked how the song’s hook — its triplet ending — is being replaced by a new, doublet-ending variant, which sounds more like “Old Sam Peabuh-Peabuh-Peabuh-Peabuh.” You can listen to both versions here.
The new song is a certified hit and is making its way to the Northeastern United States: Some of the Canadian sparrows winter in the Southern U.S., where they’re probably sharing the song, like a passed-around mixtape. –The New York Times.

Interesting article:
Did a Chinese hack kill Canada’s greatest tech company? -Bloomberg.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Fireworks light up the sky in New York City, July 4th firework displays are spread over 6 parts in locations around the city that are kept secret in an attempt to minimize crowds gathering in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CREDIT: ARTURO HOLMES/GETTY IMAGES

The Dollshouse Exhibition, a collection of over 70 Dollshouses created by Caroline Hamilton and Jane at Newby Hall, Fiddick, Skelton-on-Ure in North Yorkshire, England.
CREDIT: CHARLOTTE GRAHAM FOR THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Children dive into the Buriganga River on a hot summer day in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
CREDIT: MAMUNUR RASHID/NURPHOTO

Market Closes for July 2nd , 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
25827.36 +92.39
+0.36%
S&P 500 3130.01 +14.15
+0.45%
NASDAQ 10207.629 +53.000

+0.52%

TSX 15622.40 +107.18
+0.69%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22145.96 +24.23
+0.11%
HANG
SENG
25124.19 +697.00
+2.85%
SENSEX 35843.70 +429.25
+1.21%
FTSE 100* 6240.36 +82.40

+1.34%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.560 0.528
CND.
30 Year
Bond
1.012 0.991
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6693 0.6561
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.4272 1.4107

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73699 0.73665
US
$
1.35686 1.35749
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.52499 0.65574
US
$
1.12391 0.88975

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1771.05 1771.60
Oil
WTI Crude Future 40.65 39.27

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1862, the Internal Revenue Service was created by act of Congress to collect income taxes to finance the Civil War. Declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1895, federal income tax came back from the dead in 1913.
Canada
By Bloomberg Automation:
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite rose for the third day, climbing 0.7 percent, or 107.18 to 15,622.40 in Toronto. The index advanced to the highest closing level since June 10. Today, information technology stocks led the market higher, as 9 of 11 sectors gained; 130 of 222 shares rose, while 90 fell. Shopify Inc. contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 8.4 percent. Seven Generations Energy Ltd. had the largest increase, rising 14.9 percent.

Insights
* So far this week, the index rose 2.9 percent
* The index declined 4.6 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 4.5 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 13.1 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 39.8 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is up 2.1 percent in the past 5 days and rose 2.5 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.5 on a trailing basis and 24.6 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.3 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization

================================================================
| Index Points | | Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Information Technology | 92.8379| 5.8| 8/2
Real Estate | 13.8889| 2.8| 25/2
Utilities | 11.6800| 1.5| 14/2
Energy | 8.9120| 0.5| 15/9
Consumer Staples | 4.5611| 0.7| 7/2
Consumer Discretionary | 2.1575| 0.4| 9/4
Financials | 2.1541| 0.0| 11/14
Communication Services | 1.1679| 0.1| 5/3
Health Care | 0.3566| 0.2| 7/2
Industrials | -0.6120| 0.0| 16/12
Materials | -29.8964| -1.3| 13/38
of C$2.36t
* 30-day price volatility fell to 19.76 percent compared with 19.88 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.17 percent over the past month

US
By Rita Nazareth and Vildana Hajric
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks pared gains on speculation that a second wave of coronavirus cases could jeopardize an economic rebound from the sharpest contraction on record. The S&P 500 came off session highs amid a plunge in trading volume ahead of a holiday on news that U.S. virus cases had the biggest increase since May 9. Earlier, Florida reported that infections and hospitalizations jumped the most ever, and Houston had a surge in intensive-care patients. The figures offset data showing payrolls increased by 4.8 million in June after an upwardly revised 2.7 million gain in the prior month.

The U.S. labor market made greater progress than expected last month digging out of a deep hole, yet optimism over the rebound was tempered by stubbornly high layoffs and a resurgent coronavirus outbreak across the country. President Donald Trump still said the report shows the economy is “roaring back.” Massive monetary and fiscal policy stimulus helped lower borrowing costs and keep the financial system liquid in a time of stress — while propelling the stock market higher. “There’s still a general positive sentiment about how quickly we’re seeing the recovery,” said Chris Gaffney, president of world markets at TIAA Bank. “But we do think you’re going to see the recovery level off, especially if we continue to see higher case numbers on the virus.” Investors also assessed remarks from White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow, who told Fox Business Network that “we are very unhappy with China” and “there are going to be export restrictions.” U.S. stocks are poised to rise this quarter if history is any guide, according to Keith Lerner, chief market strategist at SunTrust Private Wealth Management. Lerner cited the S&P 500’s track record after its biggest quarterly gains since 1950 in a report Tuesday. The gains ranged from 15% to 22%, in line with last quarter’s 20% increase, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. In each case, the S&P 500 rose in the following quarter. The average advance was 8.4%.
These are some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
* The S&P 500 gained 0.5% as of 4 p.m. New York time.
* The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.4%.
* The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.5%.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 2%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 1.7%.

Currencies
* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index declined 0.1%.
* The euro fell 0.1% to $1.124.
* The Japanese yen weakened 0.1% to 107.53 per dollar.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined one basis point to 0.67%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield sank three basis points to -0.43%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield fell three basis points to 0.186%.

Commodities
* The Bloomberg Commodity Index advanced 0.7%.
* West Texas Intermediate crude advanced 1.2% to $40.29 a barrel.
* Gold increased 0.5% to $1,788.30 an ounce.
–With assistance from Adam Haigh, Michael Hunter, Todd White,
Sophie Caronello, Nancy Moran, David Wilson, Amena Saad and Vivien Lou Chen.

Have a great night.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.
                                                                   -Rosa Parks, 1913-2005

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

June 30, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents:
History’s biggest lightning bolt was 440 miles long. – Mike Smedley, Bloomberg.

Gravitational wave detectors pick up a massive collision between a black hole and a mysterious object.-Bloomberg.

June30, 1938: Superman first appears in DC Comics’ Action Comic Series issue #1.

On June 30, 1971, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, freed The New York Times and The Washington Post to resume immediate publication of articles based on the secret Pentagon Papers on the origins of the Vietnam War.  Go to article »

PHTOS OF THE DAY

Phoebe Tegetmeier who has broken through the ‘grass’ ceiling as she becomes the only female roof thatcher in Yorkshire and one of the only in a few in the country. Phoebe, 32, who has been learning the art of thatching with her father for the past 14 months and hopes to take over the family business, in York.
CREDIT: JAMES HARDISTY/SWNS

A new 360° display that pays homage to Claude Monet is set to open to the public in France. Berlin artist Yadegar Asisi’s new cylindrical artwork is an immersive experience suffused with colour, light and shadow.
CREDIT: N/A

One of the world’s tallest buildings stretches above a city shrouded in thick fog The 461 metre-tall Landmark 81 was almost the only structure visible as clouds swirled around Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
CREDIT: TRUNG ANH/SOLENT NEWS & PHOTO AGENCY

Market Closes for June 30th, 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
25812.88 +217.08
+0.85%
S&P 500 3100.29 +47.05
+1.54%
NASDAQ 10058.766 +184.613

+1.87%

TSX 15515.22 +125.50
+0.82%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 22288.14 +293.10
+1.33%
HANG
SENG
24427.19 +125.91
+0.52%
SENSEX 34915.80 -45.72
-0.13%
FTSE 100* 6169.74 -56.03

-0.90%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.528 0.510
CND.
30 Year
Bond
0.991 0.982
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6561 0.6234
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.4107 1.3734

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.73665 0.7323
US
$
1.35749 1.3655
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.52506 0.65571
US
$
1.12344 0.89012

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1771.60 1773.18
Oil
WTI Crude Future 39.27 39.70

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1938, in a move the New York Stock Exchange had resisted for a decade, William McChesney Martin was elected the NYSE’s first paid, independent president. In a striking sign that he took his independence seriously, Mr. Martin immediately sold his stake in his own brokerage firm and auctioned off his seat on the Exchange. His starting salary: $48,000.
Canada
By Aoyon Ashraf
(Bloomberg) — Canadian shares rose on the last day of June, notching a 16% gain for the second quarter, the most since the three months that ended in June 2009. The S&P/TSX Composite index 0.8% on Tuesday. Materials stocks were the best performers, while consumer staples fell the most. Gold futures rose above $1,800 an ounce for the first time in more than eight years as low interest rates and a resurgence in coronavirus cases drive demand for the metal as a haven. Canada’s economic activity collapsed in April, with output dropping the most on record in the first full month of lockdowns to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. Gross domestic product shrank by 11.6%, adding to the 7.5% decline in March, Statistics Canada said Tuesday in Ottawa. Economists had anticipated a 12% contraction.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $10.25 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold rose 0.5% to $1,781.47 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar rose 0.6% to C$1.3577 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield rose to 0.528%

By Bloomberg Automation:
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite rose for the second day, climbing 0.8 percent, or 125.5 to 15,515.22 in Toronto. Shopify Inc. contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 2.1 percent. Real Matters Inc. had the largest increase, rising 8.6 percent. Today, 167 of 222 shares rose, while 54 fell; 8 of 11 sectors were higher, led by materials stocks.

Insights
* This quarter, the index rose 16 percent, heading for the biggest advance in at least 10 years
* This month, the index rose 2.1 percent
* The index declined 5.3 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 4.5 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 13.7 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 38.9 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is down 0.3 percent in the past 5 days and rose 2.1 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.4 on a trailing basis and 24.8 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.4 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.34t
* 30-day price volatility little changed to 19.88 percent compared with 19.86 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.31 percent over the past month
================================================================
|Index Points | | Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Materials | 45.3479| 2.0| 47/4
Financials | 35.6742| 0.8| 23/2
Information Technology | 19.6656| 1.2| 6/4
Industrials | 17.3444| 1.0| 24/4
Utilities | 8.1399| 1.1| 14/2
Real Estate | 7.1548| 1.5| 23/4
Health Care | 0.2152| 0.1| 3/5
Energy | 0.2007| 0.0| 14/10
Consumer Discretionary | -1.4927| -0.3| 7/6
Communication Services | -3.2881| -0.4| 2/6
Consumer Staples | -3.4668| -0.5| 4/7

US
By Rita Nazareth and Vildana Hajric
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks climbed on the final day of the best quarter since 1998 as investors assessed better-than- estimated economic data amid concern over new coronavirus cases and trade relations with China. The S&P 500 extended its second-quarter rally to 20% as a report showed consumer confidence posted its biggest increase since 2011. The Nasdaq Composite Index soared 31% in the span, the most since 1999, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 18% and notched its best quarter in 33 years. Treasuries and the dollar fell. Gold traded near $1,800 an ounce. After the close of regular trading, FedEx Corp. soared as the economic bellwether used an efficiency drive and a surge in health-equipment deliveries to shore up earnings – softening the drag on profit from an increase in less lucrative residential deliveries. Uber Technologies Inc. jumped on Tuesday after a news report that it’s in talks to buy Postmates Inc.
Meanwhile, Boeing Co. sank after one of its largest European customers scrapped a $10.6 billion purchase deal. Despite the quarterly surge in equities, optimism has been shaken as accelerating virus infections threaten to set back re-openings and, with them, any economic progress. New cases could rise to 100,000 a day if behaviors don’t change, infectious-disease expert Anthony Fauci said. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stressed to Congress Tuesday that getting the coronavirus under control was vital as the U.S. economy rebound. After massive monetary and fiscal policy stimulus, signs that the crisis may linger longer will probably increase pressure for more aid. “The downside has become more limited given how many investors missed the rebound, how many remain bearish and how much cash has been sitting on the sidelines,” wrote Esty Dwek, head of global market strategy for Natixis Investment Managers. “Coupled with abundant stimulus measures and liquidity, corrections are likely to be bought. That said, we remain prudent and believe it is too early to add a lot of risk to portfolios.”
Equities briefly pared gains Tuesday after the Federal Communications Commission designated Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. as national security threats. Traders also monitored news that Hong Kong for the first time banned its biggest annual protest march, a decision attributed to outbreak-control measures that comes after Chinese lawmakers approved sweeping national security legislation for the former British colony. Optimism for reopenings and an economic recovery helped consumer-discretionary stocks in the S&P 500 surge the most ever in the second quarter. Technology shares surged 30%, while utilities underperformed. In terms of what’s ahead, “stocks moved into a second phase of recovery in June, where slower and choppier gains are more likely to occur as Fed-driven valuation expansion gives way to economic and earnings progress as the primary driver of returns,” said Bloomberg Intelligence’s Gina Martin Adams.
Here are some key events coming up:
* The monthly U.S. jobs report will be released on Thursday.

These are some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
* The S&P 500 jumped 1.5% as of 4 p.m. New York time.
* The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.8%.
* The Nasdaq Composite Index surged 1.9%.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index increased 0.1%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index advanced 0.7%.

Currencies
*The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.2%.
* The euro dipped 0.1% to $1.1232.
* The Japanese yen depreciated 0.3% to 107.95 per dollar.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries jumped three basis points to 0.66%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield advanced two basis points to -0.45%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield increased one basis point to 0.172%.

Commodities
* The Bloomberg Commodity Index advanced 1.1%.
* West Texas Intermediate crude dipped 0.9% to $39.35 a barrel.
* Gold climbed 1% to $1,798.80 an ounce.

–With assistance from Andreea Papuc, Constantine Courcoulas, Lu
Wang, Sophie Caronello, Nancy Moran, Lynn Thomasson, Amena Saad and Claire Ballentine.

Have a great night.

Be magnificent!

As ever,

Carolann

Step out of the history that is holding you back.
Step into the new story you are willing to create.
                                -Oprah Winfrey, b.1954.

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com

June 29, 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Tangents:

A mysterious rhythm is coming from another galaxy. -Bloomberg.

Meet the deepest hole in the world. -Scott Kominers, Bloomberg.

Nothing beats the thrill of a bookstore. -Bloomberg.

Lives Lived: The movie “The Graduate” helped define the 1960s. The story of the man who wrote the novel, Charles Webb, is even more fascinating. He has died at 81. -The NY Times.

On June 29, 1995, the shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir docked, forming the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth. Go to article »

June 29, 1613: Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, England, burns down during a performance of Henry VIII.

William James Mayo, co-founder Mayo Clinic, b. 1861.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, writer, b.1900.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Workers sort through thousands of bright red lychee fruit before they are taken to market. Luc Ngan district in Bac Giang province, Vietnam.
CREDIT: NGUYEN HUU THONG/SOLENT NEWS

A Balloonists from Balloon team Bila Hlina prepares for take off in Sobotka in the Czech Paradise. A hot air balloon drifts past a landscape as it prepares to land at sunrise.
CREDIT: SLAVEK RUTA/ZUMA WIRE

A family of moorhens feeding on fish are perfectly reflected in the water at a pond in Bourne, Lincolnshire.
CREDIT: ALI ABDULRAHEEM/SOLENT NEWS & PHOTO AGENCY

Market Closes for June 29th, 2020 

Market
Index
Close Change
Dow
Jones
25595.80 +580.25
+2.32%
S&P 500 3053.24 +44.19
+1.47%
NASDAQ 9874.152 +116.933

+1.20%

TSX 15389.72 +200.74
+1.32%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Markets

Market
Index
Close Change
NIKKEI 21995.04 -517.04
+1.13%
HANG
SENG
24301.28 -248.71
-1.01%
SENSEX 34961.52 -209.75
-0.60%
FTSE 100* 6225.77 +66.47

+1.08%

Bonds

Bonds % Yield Previous % Yield
CND.
10 Year Bond
0.510 0.511
CND.
30 Year
Bond
0.982 0.990
U.S.   
10 Year Bond
0.6234 0.6397
U.S.
30 Year Bond
1.3734 1.3708

Currencies

BOC Close Today Previous  
Canadian $ 0.7323 0.73127
US
$
1.3655 1.36748
Euro Rate
1 Euro=
Inverse
Canadian $ 1.5360 0.6510
US
$
1.1249 0.8890

Commodities

Gold Close Previous
London Gold
Fix
1773.18 1756.55
Oil
WTI Crude Future 39.70 38.49

Market Commentary:
On this day in 1979, as the American auto industry sputtered and the technology industry was taking off, the editors of The Wall Street Journal booted Chrysler from the Dow Jones Industrial Average and replaced it with IBM. And with healthcare growing faster than the food industry, Merck replaced Esmark
Canada
By Aoyon Ashraf
(Bloomberg) — Canadian equities rallied on Monday as better-than-estimated economic data offset concern over an increase in coronavirus cases. The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 1.3% in Toronto, gaining along with U.S. shares after U.S. pending home sales posted a record gain, exceeding all forecasts. Meanwhile, consumer confidence in Canada continued its upward climb for a ninth- straight week amid phased reopenings across the country. All 11 sectors within the index were positive, led by consumer discretionary and energy. Meanwhile, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group filed for protection from creditors after the coronavirus pandemic forced it to close shows around the world, bringing one of the best- known brands in live performance to its knees. Canada’s main privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into the Tim Hortons mobile app after a media report raised concerns that the Canadian coffee giant has been allegedly gathering detailed location data about its customers.

Commodities
* Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $9.30 discount to West Texas Intermediate
* Spot gold was flat at $1,771.20 an ounce

FX/Bonds
* The Canadian dollar strengthened 0.2% to C$1.3669 per U.S. dollar
* The 10-year government bond yield was little changed at 0.512%

By Bloomberg Automation:
     (Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite rose 1.3 percent at 15,389.72 in Toronto. The move was the biggest since rising 1.4 percent on June 12 and follows the previous session’s decrease of 1.7 percent. Shopify Inc. contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 1.7 percent. Ballard Power Systems Inc. had the largest increase, rising 13.4 percent. Today, 172 of 222 shares rose, while 48 fell; all sectors were higher, led by energy stocks.
Insights
* This quarter, the index rose 15 percent, heading for the biggest advance in at least 10 years
* This month, the index rose 1.3 percent
* The index declined 6.1 percent in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 2.9 percent in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 14.4 percent below its 52-week high on Feb. 20, 2020 and 37.7 percent above its low on March 23, 2020
* The S&P/TSX Composite is down 0.8 percent in the past 5 days and rose 1.3 percent in the past 30 days
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.3 on a trailing basis and 24.6 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 3.4 percent on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$2.31t
* 30-day price volatility fell to 19.86 percent compared with 20.08 percent in the previous session and the average of 20.45 percent over the past month
================================================================
|Index Points | | Sector Name | Move | % Change | Adv/Dec
================================================================
Energy | 43.8607| 2.3| 24/0
Financials | 42.0387| 1.0| 16/8
Materials | 22.0701| 1.0| 39/11
Information Technology | 18.9627| 1.2| 6/4
Industrials | 18.1823| 1.0| 19/9
Consumer Discretionary | 15.7468| 3.1| 13/0
Utilities | 14.5763| 1.9| 16/0
Communication Services | 13.1459| 1.6| 6/2
Consumer Staples | 9.9587| 1.5| 9/2
Health Care | 1.2198| 0.7| 5/4
Real Estate | 0.9745| 0.2| 19/8

US
By Rita Nazareth and Vildana Hajric
(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks climbed after better-than- estimated economic data overshadowed concern over an increase in coronavirus cases. The dollar advanced and Treasuries were little changed. The S&P 500 erased its June decline after a report showed U.S. pending home sales posted a record gain, exceeding all forecasts. Boeing Co. led gains the Dow Jones Industrial Average after a 737 Max lifted off from a Seattle airfield with a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration pilot on board. The tech-heavy Nasdaq extended gains as Facebook Inc. wiped out its losses. The improvement in economic data partly resulted from some states beginning to ease restrictions from lockdowns. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stressed the importance of keeping the coronavirus contagion contained as the economy bounces back. Florida reported a jump in its double-digit infection rate, New Jersey halted plans for indoor dining and New York City said it’s considering it. As deaths from the virus surpassed 500,000 worldwide and confirmed cases exceeded 10 million, the World Health Organization warned the worst is yet to come.
“There’s a lot of cash on the sidelines,” Tom Lee, co- founder and head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, told Bloomberg TV. “It’s not clear what trajectory coronavirus is heading. But I also think because we’re into quarter-end, there’s been some re-balancing. So I’m kind of in the camp that any weakness is short-lived. I would think July is going to be a strong month for stocks.” U.S. companies are providing reason for hope that an earnings recession may be less severe than analysts expect. The
signal comes from a profit-outlook index, compiled by Bloomberg and based on corporate revisions to forecasts. For almost all of June, the index’s 20-day moving average has exceeded 50, showing more companies raised projections than  lowered them. The average peaked June 17 at 63.4, the highest reading in the index’s 20-year history. Analysts estimate that second-quarter earnings for the S&P 500 will plunge 44% after a first-quarter decline of 18%.
Here are some key events coming up:
* Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testify before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday.
* The monthly U.S. jobs report will be released on Thursday.

These are some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
* The S&P 500 Index rose 1.5% as of 4 p.m. New York time.
* The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 2.3%.
* The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.2%.
* The Stoxx Europe 600 Index increased 0.4%.
* The MSCI Asia Pacific Index decreased 1.4%.

Currencies
* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index gained 0.2%.
* The euro increased 0.2% to $1.1238.
* The Japanese yen depreciated 0.3% to 107.59 per dollar.

Bonds
* The yield on 10-year Treasuries dipped less than one basis point to 0.64%.
* Germany’s 10-year yield rose one basis point to -0.47%.
* Britain’s 10-year yield declined one basis point to 0.163%.

Commodities
* The Bloomberg Commodity Index jumped 1.6%.
* West Texas Intermediate crude rose 3% to $39.63 a barrel.
* Gold increased 0.1% to $1,782.50 an ounce.

–With assistance from Max Nisen, Adam Haigh, Todd White, Lynn
Thomasson, David Wilson and Sophie Caronello.

Have  a great night.

Be magnificent!
As ever,

Carolann

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
                                                                               -Margaret Mead, 1901-1978

Carolann Steinhoff, B.Sc., CFP®, CIM, CIWM
Senior Investment Advisor

Queensbury Securities Inc.,
St. Andrew’s Square,
Suite 340A, 730 View St.,
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Y7

Tel: 778.430.5808
(C): 250.881.0801
Toll Free: 1.877.430.5895
Fax: 778.430.5828
www.carolannsteinhoff.com