“The best decisions aren’t made in a rush—they’re made with patience, discipline, and a clear understanding of value.”
— Warren Buffett
Markets experienced modest volatility this week as investors balanced strong consumer demand, evolving inflation expectations, and anticipation ahead of several important economic releases.
While major indices finished slightly lower, the broader investment landscape continues to show resilience. Strength in the labour market, continued momentum in artificial intelligence infrastructure, and steady consumer spending remain key themes shaping markets.
Below, we break down the developments that mattered most this week and what investors should watch in the days ahead.
Markets ended the week modestly lower as investors positioned themselves ahead of key economic data.
- TSX Composite: -0.98%
- Dow Jones: -1.61%
- S&P 500: -0.56%
- NASDAQ: -0.26%
Despite the pullback, markets remain near historic highs, supported by corporate earnings growth and continued strength in key sectors such as technology and consumer discretionary.
One of the most important economic events this week will be the upcoming employment data release.
Bloomberg’s consensus forecast expects 55,000 new jobs for February, while JPMorgan’s economists see the most likely outcome falling between 45,000 and 75,000.
Markets would likely absorb results within that range without significant disruption. However, deviations could influence investor sentiment:
- Below 45,000 jobs: raises concerns about stagflation
- Above 105,000 jobs: would represent a strong positive surprise
After December’s softer 48,000 jobs report and January’s rebound to 130,000, Friday’s data will provide clearer insight into the true direction of the labour market.
For investors, employment trends remain one of the most important signals for the broader economy.
Bond markets also adjusted this week as inflation expectations shifted modestly higher.
Rising oil prices tied to tensions in the Middle East have contributed to slightly higher inflation forecasts, pushing Treasury yields upward and prompting investors to push back expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.
While markets still anticipate rate reductions later this year, those cuts may arrive somewhat later than previously expected.
For investors, this environment reinforces the role of fixed income in diversified portfolios. Bonds currently offer:
-Attractive income opportunities
-Potential price gains when rates eventually decline
This balance of income and potential capital appreciation remains a key component of long-term portfolio stability.
Technology earnings also played a significant role in market sentiment this week.
Broadcom’s quarterly results reinforced the strength of the rapidly expanding AI chip market. Wall Street’s reaction has been overwhelmingly positive:
- 49 of 51 analysts rate the stock a buy
- Consensus price targets imply over 40% upside
Demand for Broadcom’s custom AI chips continues to accelerate as major technology companies expand their artificial intelligence capabilities.
Concerns that large technology firms might eventually develop chips entirely in-house appear overstated for now. Instead, the industry continues to rely heavily on specialized semiconductor providers.
For investors, the results highlight the continued long-term runway for AI infrastructure spending, which remains a key theme across technology markets.
Strong portfolio results are the product of disciplined strategy, thoughtful security selection, and consistent execution.
Here are the areas that contributed most to recent performance.
Amazon was the top-performing holding last week, rising 5.3%.
The company’s strength came from two major drivers:
Cloud computing growth
Amazon Web Services continues to benefit from surging demand as businesses adopt artificial intelligence tools.
Retail efficiency improvements
Operational improvements in Amazon’s delivery network are also boosting profitability in its core e-commerce business.
This combination of strong growth in two very different segments provides Amazon with a level of resilience few companies can match.
The Consumer Discretionary sector was the strongest contributor to performance this week.
Leading the move higher was Booking Holdings, which gained more than 8%, alongside Amazon’s strong performance.
Despite higher borrowing costs, global travel demand remains robust. Consumers are increasingly gravitating toward dominant digital platforms that offer scale, convenience, and competitive pricing.
In today’s environment, businesses with strong market reach and pricing power continue to outperform.
Our Momentum strategy was the standout performer this week.
Momentum investing focuses on companies that demonstrate consistent earnings growth and durable competitive advantages.
Markets tend to reward businesses that are already performing well, particularly when the trends driving their success remain intact.
Amazon and Booking Holdings were major contributors, highlighting how strong earnings momentum continues to generate attractive returns.
Several key economic releases could influence markets in the coming days.
Tuesday, March 10
The home sales report offers a real-time snapshot of how buyers are navigating elevated mortgage rates.
Housing activity is closely tied to consumer confidence. When households feel financially secure, they are more likely to make large financial commitments.
For investors, housing data also provides early insight into economic momentum and opportunities across sectors such as:
- Real estate
- Construction
- Financial services
Wednesday, March 11
The monthly inflation report is one of the most closely watched economic indicators.
A softer inflation reading could support both stocks and bonds by keeping the possibility of rate cuts on the table.
A higher-than-expected reading, however, could trigger short-term market volatility.
Because inflation remains central to Federal Reserve policy decisions, this release has significant potential to move markets.
Friday, March 13
Canada’s jobs report will provide key insight into the domestic economic outlook.
With trade uncertainty affecting business sentiment, investors will be watching closely to see whether Canadian employers continue hiring at a healthy pace.
Strong job growth supports:
- Consumer spending
- Economic stability
- Confidence in Canadian equities
The results may also influence future Bank of Canada policy decisions.
While weekly market movements and economic data can create short-term volatility, long-term investment success is built on discipline and patience.
Our focus remains on identifying strong businesses, maintaining diversified portfolios, and positioning investments to benefit from long-term economic trends.
By staying grounded in a thoughtful and consistent investment process, we continue working toward what matters most: helping our clients achieve their financial goals.