"A good business is like a strong castle with a deep moat around it.” — Warren Buffett
Markets this week delivered an important message: resilience. Despite geopolitical headlines and short-term volatility, equities held firm, supported by strong fundamentals, technology leadership, and continued momentum in key sectors like energy.
Below, we break down what mattered most, what drove performance, and what to watch next.
- TSX Composite: -1.53%
- Dow Jones: -1.01%
- S&P 500: -1.74%
- NASDAQ: -2.38%
Source: Bloomberg (March 26, 2026)
The standout theme this week was how well markets absorbed uncertainty.
The S&P 500 rebounded from session lows, supported by progress in ceasefire discussions that helped ease geopolitical concerns. While headlines remained mixed, the ability of markets to stabilize signals something deeper: investor confidence in the broader economic outlook remains intact.
For long-term investors, this reinforces a key principle:
quality companies tend to outperform during periods of volatility.
Even in a choppy environment, technology once again proved its strength.
The Nasdaq 100 recovered late in the week, driven by strong earnings from companies like Meta and IBM. These results highlight an important shift in how we view tech:
- Not speculative
- Not purely growth-driven
- But cash-generating, durable businesses with real competitive advantages
AI, digital infrastructure, and scalable platforms continue to underpin long-term growth. This supports our continued conviction in owning high-quality technology leaders as core portfolio holdings.
One of the most important developments this week didn’t come from markets—it came from strategic capital deployment.
Brookfield Renewable, alongside La Caisse, announced a $9 billion acquisition of Boralex, strengthening its position in North American clean energy.
Why this matters:
- Long-term contracted revenues provide stability
- Brookfield’s scale enhances operational efficiency
- Rising electricity demand supports long-term growth
This deal reinforces a major structural theme:
The global transition to clean energy is accelerating—and creating durable investment opportunities.
Transparency matters. Here’s what contributed most to performance this week:
ConocoPhillips led gains as oil prices rose on tightening supply and geopolitical developments.
Key strengths:
- Strong free cash flow
- Disciplined capital allocation
- Attractive shareholder returns
This is a textbook example of what we look for:
financial strength, operational discipline, and resilience across cycles.
Energy was the strongest-performing sector, with:
- ConocoPhillips: +5.74%
- Exxon Mobil: +4.56%
Supporting factors:
- Tightening global supply
- Resilient demand expectations
- Improved earnings visibility
Beyond performance, energy continues to serve an important role as an inflation hedge in portfolios.
Our Value strategy outperformed this week, benefiting from strength in energy and defensive sectors.
In uncertain environments, investors tend to favour:
- Lower valuations
- Strong cash flows
- Earnings stability
This rotation validates our approach:
combining value and growth to build balanced, resilient portfolios.
Several key economic data points could shape market direction:
Tuesday, March 31 — U.S. Job Openings (JOLTS)
- Previous: 6.946 million openings (above expectations)
- Signals continued hiring demand
A strong reading supports consumer spending and a soft landing scenario.
Wednesday, April 1 — ISM Manufacturing Index
- Previous: 52.4 (expansion territory)
- Indicates ongoing growth in the factory sector
Healthy manufacturing supports corporate earnings and economic momentum.
Friday, April 3 — U.S. Jobs Report
- Previous unemployment rate: 4.4%
- Focus on hiring trends and wage growth
This is the most important data release of the week, with implications for both stocks and bonds.
This week reinforced a core truth about investing:
Markets may fluctuate, but quality, discipline, and long-term thinking win over time.
We continue to focus on:
- High-quality businesses
- Structural growth themes (like AI and clean energy)
- Balanced exposure across value and growth
Most importantly, we remain committed to helping you achieve your long-term financial goals through thoughtful portfolio management and disciplined investing.