Investments Unplugged

Despite the lack of evidence, people tend to believe a middle child has certain personality traits and can be difficult to deal with. Investors may think of mid caps in similar ways. Jeff Mo, Portfolio Manager, U.S. Mid Cap Equity at Mawer Investment Management, joins the Capital Markets Strategy team to talk about the benefits that mid caps may provide for your investment portfolio. They cover topics like: • short-term vs long-term market trends • how market volatility can create opportunities • effect of inflation on companies’ ability to generate returns • challenges of predicting the markets • importance of downside protection. Are you judging mid caps fairly?

Seven is often considered a lucky number. But luck doesn’t usually factor into it when talking about recession indicators. The Capital Markets Strategy team discusses whether we’re headed for a recession in the near future by looking closely at seven economic indicators they pay attention to: • 10-2 inverted yield curve • ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index • positive inflationary trends • tighter financial conditions. Wait, that’s only four! … Not to worry, just listen in and you’ll hear about the other three too.

This month seems to be ending with a bang—literally. The tension between Ukraine and Russia has escalated, which has been affecting market volatility. The Capital Markets Strategy team looks at the global state of affairs through the lenses of historical, political, and investment data, covering topics like: • short-term and long-term effects of geopolitical and military situations • disruptive vs destructive events • the impact on commodities, especially oil prices • risk to investment returns … and more. Hear what the team has to say about the growing concerns in Eastern Europe.

Maybe it’s time to take that fixed-income vehicle into the shop for a tune-up? Ace investment mechanics Dan Janis and Tom Goggins, from Manulife Investment Management’s Strategic Income team, join the Capital Markets Strategy team to answer questions around what’s happening in fixed-income markets, including: • Are fixed-income investments still worth holding? • What will the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve do to combat rising inflation? • How do emerging markets fit into the picture? • Where are investment opportunities presenting themselves? And what does this have to do with college football great Paul “Bear” Bryant? Listen to find out.

Our 2022 road trip has barely gotten underway and equity market volatility already has some investors wondering if they’ve secured their homes before leaving. What does the Capital Markets Strategy team think this recent short-term market weakness is likely being caused by? One word: uncertainty. In this episode, they discuss: • the recent market selloff • what the U.S. Federal Reserve may do with interest rates • the geopolitical scene — in particular, tension around Russia and Ukraine • what recession indicators and other economic signs could be pointing to … and more. There are always unforeseen bumps in the road. But does that mean we should turn around?

The investment journey over the next year may likely include a number of stops along the way, but the Capital Markets Strategy team sees the potential for it to be a scenic and enjoyable route. In this episode, the team looks at a number of important questions to prepare for the coming trip, including: • Is inflation going to rise or fall? • What do historical trends say about growth? • Equities and fixed income — should portfolio positioning change? • How do the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic factor in? • Will supply chain issues continue to affect production? The car tunes are on. Let’s get moving.

The holiday season is finally here after a year that has had more twists than candy cane stripes. The busy elves in the Capital Markets Strategy workshop take a look back at some of the investment and economic themes of 2021 — some naughty, some nice. They wrap up the year end and tie a ribbon around topics like: • fixed-income returns and the 10-year Treasury yield • equities and credit • inflation and the cost of living • portfolio protection and asset allocation • the COVID-19 pandemic. Grab a cup of eggnog, hot chocolate, or apple cider, and listen in.

Stagflation — sputtering economic growth coupled with rising inflation. Groovy … okay, not really that groovy. Just what is stagflation and how does it affect the investment world? The Capital Markets Strategy team takes a closer look at this idea and the impact it has, covering things like: • how current stagflation differs from past stagflation • employment and wages • the price of oil as a consumption driver • interest rates and the U.S. Federal Reserve • the current inflation model. Can you dig that?

“Extra! Extra! Economy causing unease for investors!” The media has covered many stories about how economic activity has been less than anticipated to some degree or other. When we look beyond the headings and captions, what do we see? The Capital Markets Strategy team discusses some indicators to consider when trying to read the current markets: • oil and real estate prices • 10-year Treasury bond yields • inflation tapering and interest rates • debt and credit conditions … and many more. Get the full story.

What’s the score on stocks? Are currencies inbounds? Should investors play through or go grab a drink from the 19th hole? Sandy Sanders, Head of U.S. Core Value Equity team at Manulife Investment Management, joins the Capital Markets Strategy team to look at current investment plays and conditions on the field, as well as: • economic health of Canada and the U.S. • earnings in cyclical vs staple businesses • valuation and returns in the technology sector • U.S. monetary policy Get ready to listen in. Fore! Batter up! Hut!

Good day, class, and welcome to our back-to-school session. We hope you had a great summer! Join the Capital Markets Strategy team as they lead us in a discussion about what has happened in 2021, so far, and what we might expect in the months ahead. They cover a lot of subjects this year, including: • fixed-income investments’ lackluster performance • surprising performance of equity markets • continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic • valuations and earnings growth • inflation’s effects on the 10-year Treasury yield. Notebooks open? Ears ready? Let’s listen.

Equities are up; bonds are down. Stronger economic gains and job growth in the U.S. and Canada seem to show that a recovery is in progress. But what happens next? The Capital Markets Strategy team looks back at the first half of 2021 and peers ahead to where we may be going in second half. They cover things like: • a possible equity market correction • increasing interest in emerging markets • valuation variations • what prices of commodities like corn, copper, and coffee may indicate • fixed-income risks and opportunities … as well as other topics. And what does all this have to do with inflation … or bears in the forest?

The bond markets don’t sleep, so why should you? The Capital Markets Strategy team is joined by Christopher Chapman and Peter Azzinaro, from the Strategic Income team at Manulife Investment Management, to discuss the activity within the fixed-income investment world. They cover topics like: • the strategy around risk-adjusted returns • looking at the bigger picture of the global bond market • whether inflation is transitory or persistent • where the 10-year Treasury yield could go from here • shifting forces that could affect rates. Listen in … and don’t get caught napping.

Distinguishing between market signals and market noise can help you make good investment decisions. Conrad Dabiet, Senior Managing Director at Manulife Investment Management, offers his insights on managing portfolios and lessons learned over his extensive career, such as: • the core views and principles of his Value Equity team • how the team has responded to pandemic-driven volatility • learning about companies, understanding business, and finding opportunities • the psychology of buying and selling. Public investors play two games: an outer one and an inner one. Join Conrad and the Capital Markets Strategy team to find out the difference.

Have emerging markets changed enough to make them worth looking at as a core asset class? Philip Ehrmann, Senior Portfolio Manager at Manulife Investment Management, joins host Philip Petursson to discuss this and other topics related to emerging markets, such as: • areas of the world that are considered emerging markets • changes to the sector structure • how politics can affect their evaluation • building an emerging markets portfolio • the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination programs. And which English football team does Mr. Ehrmann root for? Listen in and he’ll tell you.

You ask — we hear you. The Capital Markets Strategy team loves receiving and responding to your questions. So, each quarter, the team will devote an entire podcast episode to answering the ones you ask most often. In this episode, they discuss topics like: • Why are long-term bonds down currently? • Where are yields and inflation headed, and what could it mean for fixed-income investors? • What can we expect from the energy sector for the rest of this year? • Are emerging markets still favourable for 2021? • What’s the potential major market risk for the next 18 to 24 months? Tune in to hear the team’s responses. And keep your questions coming in.

The 2021 Canadian federal government budget — it’s finally here. But what’s in it? John Natale, Head of Tax, Retirement, and Estate Planning Services at Manulife Investment Management, joins host Philip Petursson to share his thoughts about economic impacts of the 2021 federal budget: • revenue generation through the “wealth consumption” tax • affordable chid care effects on the labour force • whether tax rates may increase • how the government may pay for the projected deficit … and other related topics. And what can you do to minimize your tax burden? Let’s listen in.

The economy continues to reopen, more people are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, and the day when the pandemic is no longer a significant part of our lives draws closer. In light of this, the Capital Markets Strategy team discusses their economic outlook at the end of the first quarter of 2021: • Could massive pent-up demand and low inventories affect the economic rebound? • How does monetary and fiscal stimulus factor into the markets? • Equities or fixed income — which is currently the biggest challenge when building a portfolio? • Is inflation always a bad thing? • What stage of economic recovery are we in? Hear the answers to these questions … and learn about revenge spending and envy spending.

Inflation rates — should we be paying attention to them now? And what do they have to do with long-term bond yields? The Capital Markets Strategy team weighs in on several subjects related to inflation and fixed-income investments: • Will inflation increase in 2021? • What do bond yields tell us about the economy? • Where do unemployment, wage pressure, and fiscal stimulus fit into this scenario? • How could investors react to a low-yield environment that’s moving higher? … and they banter about beer and bitcoin too!