The second quarter of 2026 saw geopolitical headlines and shifting views on technology impacting equity valuations globally. The war in the Middle East began to de-escalate by quarter-end, with Brent crude falling back to more normalized levels after peaking near US$120/barrel in April, though the full market impact is still being assessed. 1 Portfolio weights […]
In Q2, the Fund returned 10.9%, ahead of the S&P/TSX Composite at 7.0%. This is despite a challenging month of June where the Fund returned -3.8%, and the S&P/TSX Composite was up 0.5%. 1 Portfolio weights remain predominantly Canadian, with ~78.7% in Canadian equities and ~12.5% in US equities. The levels of volatility we've grown […]
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 […]
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