The Invested

After a strong first quarter, equity markets experienced a pullback in April as odds of a forthcoming rate cut by the Fed seem unlikely. On this episode, Lesley Marks, Chief Investment Officer of Equities, discusses the negative performance of the equity markets in April. Lesley suggests it was a modest pullback rather than the start of a downward trend. Lesley also shares her insights on the latest earnings season and explores the potential impacts of diverging policies between the Fed and Bank of Canada.

This episode was recorded on May 6, 2024.

Is the Bank of Canada hinting at a rate cut in June, even as the Fed adopts a more hawkish stance? On this episode, Matthew Schnurr and Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Mackenzie Investments, discuss the implications of the Fed’s latest meeting and its unexpected adjustments to their quantitative tightening program. Given the unique economic pressures in contrast to the US, Dustin explores the possibility of the BoC to begin cutting rates in June.

This episode was recorded on May 2, 2024.

Generational investment opportunities rarely arise, but that’s exactly what’s happening in the push toward net zero. On this special Earth Day episode, John Cook, Portfolio Manager and Team Co-Lead of the Mackenzie Greenchip Team, and Konstantin Boehmer, Head of Fixed Income, discuss the latest developments in the energy transition and explore investment opportunities in both equity and fixed income markets.

Further reading:

• A $US4.5 trillion investment opportunity in the energy transition
• 2023 sustainable investing report

This episode was recorded on April 11, 2024

How have markets reacted to recent escalations in the conflict in the Middle East? On this episode, Lesley Marks, Chief Investment Officer of Equities, discusses how commodities have been impacted by geopolitical risks in the Middle East and new US and UK sanctions banning deliveries of Russian supplies. Lesley also discusses the potential for a pullback in US equities market despite strong fundamentals and earnings growth.

This episode was recorded on April 15, 2024.

After a hotter than expected CPI print, are all bets off for an interest rate cut in June? On this episode, Matthew Schnurr and Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Mackenzie Investments, discuss market reactions to the recent inflation data in the US and how this could affect expectations for multiple interest rate cuts this year. Dustin also discusses the BoC’s decision to hold interest rates at 5% and why rates may begin to ease sooner rather than later.

This episode was recorded on April 11, 2024.

On this episode, Arup Datta, Senior Vice President and Head of Mackenzie’s Global Quantitative Equity Team, discusses his team’s approach to quantitative equity investing and how machine learning is now incorporated into their process. Arup also discusses the recent launch of the Mackenzie World Low Volatility Fund and how it can complement the Mackenzie Global Equity Fund that his team also manages.

This episode was recorded on April 8, 2024.

As core inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, three interest rate cuts are still projected for this year, consistent with central bankers’ lower rate outlook. In this episode, Matthew Schnurr and Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Mackenzie Investments, discuss how the subtle changes in the Fed’s long-term outlook suggest a dovish stance, which could indicate that higher inflation rates may be more acceptable in the future. Dustin also explores the implications of the weaker-than-expected inflation numbers in Canada and how the BoC’s April meeting could set the stage for future policy actions. Finally, Dustin explains the BoJ’s historic interest rate hike, the first in 17 years, and the end of their yield curve control policy.

This episode was recorded on March 21, 2024.

As a potential rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump becomes more and more likely, what implications could this have in the markets? In this episode, Matthew Schnurr and Dustin Reid, Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Mackenzie Investments, analyze various scenarios that could play out between now and election day in November. Dustin also discusses the most recent Bank of Canada decision and what we could expect in the upcoming Fed meeting later this month.

This episode was recorded on March 7, 2024.

When it comes to portfolio construction, identifying companies with sustainable competitive advantages, or moats, can help drive long-term returns. On this episode, Darren McKiernan, Portfolio Manager and Head of Mackenzie Global Equity & Income Team, discusses the concept of the “Dream Team” and the six competitive advantages that guides his team’s investment decisions. Darren also highlights the significance of a company’s capital allocation decisions in relation to its competitive advantages and growth potential.

This episode was recorded on February 26, 2024.

What do recent bank earnings mean for Canada’s economy? In this episode, Lesley Marks, Chief Investment Officer of Equities, discusses the latest market trends, the state of the Canadian and US consumer, and insights on Chinese equities. Lesley highlights Bitcoin’s recent momentum and its potential as a sentiment indicator for the broader market. Finally, Lesley provides a thoughtful outlook for 2024, emphasizing the continued resilience of the US economy, the enduring trend of AI, and the potential risks and opportunities in the current interest rate environment.

This episode was recorded on March 1, 2024.