"The desire to perform all the time is usually a barrier to performing over time."
–– Robert Olstein
Last Week’s Overview
| Index | Performance |
| TSX Composite | -0.03% |
| Dow Jones |
0.60% |
| S&P 500 | 1.29% |
| NASDAQ | 1.20% |
Source: Bloomberg (October 8, 2026)
Weekly Insights
Each week, we break down the key events and market movements shaping the investing landscape. From economic data to investor sentiment and global headlines, this section captures what mattered most, and how it impacted markets.
Jobless Claims Fall to Their Lowest Level Since July
New unemployment claims fell to 197,000 for the week ending October 3, marking the fourth straight week below 200,000 and the longest such streak since the 1960s. This tells us employers are holding on to their workers, which supports household income, consumer confidence, and the spending that drives the U.S. economy. For investors, a steady job market provides a solid foundation for corporate earnings and reinforces our focus on quality companies that benefit from consistent consumer demand.
Source: Bloomberg (October 8, 2026)
Strong Bond Demand Highlights Attractive Income Opportunities
Investors showed a strong appetite for U.S. government bonds this week, as a $22 billion auction of 30-year Treasuries drew solid demand and helped bring the 30-year yield down to about 5.61%. With yields still near their highest levels in over 20 years, this response suggests investors see today's bond market as a compelling opportunity to lock in income. For our portfolios, high-quality bonds can once again deliver meaningful income while providing balance and stability alongside our equity holdings.
Source: Bloomberg (October 8, 2026)
Google's New AI Assistant Shows How Technology Is Reshaping the Workplace
Alphabet's Google introduced a new Gemini-powered AI agent designed to work like a digital colleague, handling tasks across Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Calendar for business users. This marks an important shift as leading technology companies move from building AI infrastructure to delivering practical tools that help businesses save time and work more efficiently. For investors, this progress supports long-term growth not only for established platforms like Alphabet and Microsoft, but also for cloud computing, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, all of which benefit as AI adoption grows.
Source: Bloomberg (October 8, 2026)
Key Drivers of Our Outperformance
We believe in transparency when it comes to where outperformance is coming from. This section spotlights a top-performing company we hold, a sector where we've taken a winning position, and a strategy that has driven recent success across our portfolios.
- Company Highlight: Accenture Plc (ACN)
- Accenture gained 7.24% last week as it launched its Advanced Intelligence Group on October 5, a new team dedicated to helping large organizations solve complex AI challenges. The company also completed its acquisition of Mjølner Informatics, adding specialized software engineering expertise to its growing AI capabilities. As businesses look for help turning AI investment into real results, Accenture's role as a trusted consulting and implementation partner positions it well for this next phase of adoption.
- Source: Optimize Asset Management (October 8, 2026)
- Sector Highlight: Information Technology
-
Information Technology led our portfolio performance last week, with NVIDIA and Microsoft together adding about 0.59% and Broadcom and Accenture each rising more than 7%. Businesses continue to invest heavily in AI, cloud computing, and digital modernization, and Microsoft's October 7 AI platform announcements with NVIDIA show how these trends reinforce one another. Our technology holdings are established leaders with diverse revenue streams and strong financial resources, positioning them well as AI spending translates into real productivity gains.
- Source: Optimize Asset Management (October 8, 2026)
- Style Highlight: Size
-
Our Size strategy was the week's strongest performer, led by large-cap holdings including NVIDIA, Tesla, Amazon, Alphabet, and Apple. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both reached record highs on October 6, supported by renewed investor demand for these market leaders. Large companies have the scale, earnings visibility, and financial strength to keep investing in long-term growth, which is why we continue to favour established leaders with proven execution.
Source: Optimize Asset Management (October 8, 2026)
What To Look For Next Week
We also look ahead to the economic reports, events, and earnings that may influence the week ahead. From inflation and jobs data to corporate updates from key market players, this section keeps you informed on what's coming and why it matters.
- U.S. Existing Home Sales (Tuesday, October 13): Tuesday's existing home sales report shows how many previously owned homes changed hands, offering a useful read on housing demand and consumer confidence. In August, sales eased 2.0% to an annualized pace of 3.98 million homes, while the median price rose 1.6% from a year earlier to $429,100 and buyers gained more choice as inventory grew 3.2%. Because housing influences spending on everything from furniture to renovations, this data helps us gauge consumer health and the outlook for related sectors.
Source: National Association of Realtors (October 8, 2026)- U.S. Consumer Price Index (Wednesday, October 14): Wednesday brings the Consumer Price Index, which measures changes in the prices households pay for everyday goods and services. In August, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, eased to 2.4% from a year earlier, its lowest level since March 2021, even as the monthly reading edged up 0.3%. Continued progress on inflation supports a steady path for Federal Reserve policy, which is constructive for both stock and bond markets.
-
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (October 8, 2026) - U.S. Producer Price Index (Thursday, October 15): Thursday's Producer Price Index tracks the prices businesses receive for their goods and services, and it often offers an early signal of where consumer prices may head. In August, producer prices rose 0.4% for the month, in line with expectations, while core producer prices, which exclude food and energy, rose a more modest 0.2%, below the 0.3% forecast. We'll be watching for continued moderation, as easing price pressures at the business level support profit margins and give the Federal Reserve more flexibility on interest rates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (October 8, 2026)
Source of All Economic Data: Bloomberg, National Association of Realtors, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please consult with your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.