As we pass the halfway point of 2026, investors may be surprised to learn that the Russell 2000 has been the top-performing major index so far this year, outpacing the S&P 500 and far exceeding the mega-cap Magnificent 7. Small caps are beating large-cap peers by nearly 1,400 basis points YTD, the largest first-half gap […]
As we move into June, the macro backdrop remains dynamic. Inflation stays front and center, shaped by several converging forces: ongoing conflict in the Middle East and supply disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, the lingering effects of tariffs, AI-driven demand, and a broadening global growth recovery. Despite these factors, markets have continued to […]
As we find ourselves in the summer months, markets have not obliged the well-respected summer slowdown, instead greeting us with wave upon wave of volatility. Today's environment is characterized by a significant and widening bifurcation, driven by an unprecedented surge in demand for AI infrastructure and a similar acceleration in national security spending internationally. Nothing […]
In May, the Fund returned 3.7%, ahead of the TSX at 2.5%. The S&P 1500 Software & Services Index was the standout of the month, up 14%, led by a handful of outperformers, well ahead of both the S&P 500 (+5%) and the TSX (+2.5%), marking its second consecutive month of positive returns. Even so, […]
The Pender Global Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund returned 6.3%1 in April. Following a pullback of 9.10% from its January high through late March, the S&P 500 rebounded to post a gain of 7.9% for the month and briefly touched new all-time highs. The recovery was driven by three converging events: a partial de-escalation of geopolitical […]
Market Environment – Navigating a Volatile April April 2026 has been a pivotal month as the US stock market continued to experience heightened volatility driven by a combination of geopolitical risks and shifting expectations for Federal Reserve policy. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continued to impact oil markets, resulting in volatile price spikes, […]
Markets were volatile this quarter, with small-cap technology in Canada bearing the brunt of the pressure. The S&P/TSX Info-T had one of its worst starts in recent history, driven by intensifying fears of AI-driven disruption and the so-called "SaaS-Pocalypse," even as the S&P/TSX Composite Index reached historic highs near 34,5001. While negative software sentiment may […]
The first quarter of 2026 was marked by significant volatility that continues to reverberate across global markets. The backdrop has been characterized by pronounced dispersion across equity sectors and individual stocks. The global economy entered 2026 following a 2025 "soft landing" supported by AI spending and fiscal stimulus, but Q1 brought heightened geopolitical risks alongside […]
Market Environment – (More) Energy Shocks and the Prevalence of the US Economy March delivered a blunt reminder that geopolitics can reprice markets faster than fundamentals. The optimism that carried US small and mid-caps to outperformance in the early weeks of 2026 gave way to a more difficult backdrop as instability in the Middle East […]
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