Amidst the economic fall out of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Canadian government announced a 25% reduction in RRIF minimums as part of a multi-billion dollar relief package.When you are in a RRIF, you are mandated to withdraw the minimum amount required by law each year. In this scenario, when the market drops drastically the RRIF payment you receive equates to you selling that portion of your portfolio at a low.
While we don’t know what the ultimate effects of the coronavirus will be on investment markets, it can be helpful to look to the history for reference and see how the market has performed during virus outbreaks in the past.
Equity markets around the world are falling as investors react to the increased economic risk posed by the spread of the Coronavirus, or COVID-19.
There is much discussion about portfolio positioning and considerations for late cycle investing. Many of us would love a crystal ball, but alas, we don’t have one. We are left to carefully weigh facts to help us make educated decisions and calculated risks with the information available to us.
2018 was the weakest year for global markets since the great financial crisis in 2008.
It has been said that retail investors, if left to their own devices will often behave in the opposite direction they should.
As 2018 has drawn to a close, it’s natural to reflect on the year’s challenges—in both the equity and fixed income markets around the world.
During the last several weeks we have seen the return of market volatility and experienced some of the largest market fluctuations we’ve seen in a couple years.