Author: Alexander Lee

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has announced her resignation amidst a period of turbulence prompted by protests concerning the conflict in Gaza. Shafik, an Egypt-born economist and former president of the London School of Economics, declared her immediate departure after serving in the role for a little over a year. In a statement released late Wednesday, Shafik acknowledged the challenges faced in managing divergent views within the university community. Her decision to step down was reached after reflecting on the circumstances and considering the best path forward for Columbia University. The Board of Trustees announced that Katrina Armstrong, the CEO…

The Central Bank of Canada recently demonstrated reduced concerns regarding the rapid increase in home prices as it made adjustments to its benchmark interest rate, based on the minutes from its latest governing council meeting. Deliberations from the July 24 meeting, where the central bank implemented its second consecutive quarter-point rate cut, were made public on Wednesday. The Bank of Canada’s top monetary policymakers engaged in discussions about potential risks to the inflation outlook and the broader Canadian economy, including factors such as immigration levels, wage pressures, and the state of the housing market. Previous discussions indicated that the governing…

Investing in stocks on the TSX that are experiencing rapid growth or momentum can potentially yield significant returns, but it also carries higher risks. Stocks that have seen a steep increase in price, typically defined as a gain of 50% or more within a short period, have shown the potential to continue outperforming in the short term due to momentum. Some studies indicate an additional average return of 10-15% over the following six months in such cases. However, this momentum can reverse just as quickly, with many soaring stocks facing corrections of 20% or more within a year. Changes in…

Renowned billionaire investor David Tepper maintained his positions in Chinese companies that he acquired earlier this year, while making adjustments to his holdings in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and various US tech giants. In the second quarter, Tepper’s firm, Appaloosa Management, reduced its stake in Alibaba by approximately 7%. However, Alibaba remains the largest position in the fund’s $6.2 billion equity portfolio, comprising 12% of the total. Tepper also made changes to his investments in other Chinese companies, increasing stakes in JD.com Inc., KE Holdings Inc., and two Chinese exchange-traded funds, while decreasing positions in PDD Holdings and Baidu Inc.…

The latest meeting minutes from the central bank indicate a decreased level of concern regarding the spike in home prices as the benchmark interest rate is lowered. The discussions from the meeting highlighted various risks to the inflation outlook and the Canadian economy, including immigration rates, wage pressures, and the housing market. Previous meetings had shown apprehension about housing activity rising with a lower policy rate, but the recent release suggests a reduction in these worries. The governing council acknowledged the potential impact of declining mortgage rates and higher population growth on increasing demand in the housing market, along with…

HIVE Digital Technologies (TSXV:HIVE), a global cryptocurrency mining company, has reported an unaudited production of 116 Bitcoin in July. This marks a 2% increase in its total holdings compared to the previous month. The company currently holds 2,533 units of Bitcoin on its balance sheet, with a total value exceeding US$164 million as of Wednesday. HIVE operates in Europe, North America, and South America, focusing on cryptocurrency mining and high-performance computing. Despite a 29.52% decrease in its stock price year-over-year, the company has seen a significant gain of 175.29% since 2019. The company achieved this production milestone with an average…

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has caught the attention of investors worldwide. As the AI trend shows no signs of slowing down, investors are eager to capitalize on the potential for significant market gains in the coming years. This begs the question: should pensioners also consider investing in this rapidly evolving sector? Typically, pensioners are encouraged to focus on lower-risk assets like bonds, a recommendation rooted in the importance of age in determining risk tolerance. Younger individuals are often advised to invest in higher-risk assets such as individual stocks and mutual funds, as the equity market offers opportunities for…

Valeura Energy Inc. is making preparations to recommence oil production operations at the Wassana field after a five-week suspension offshore Gulf of Thailand. The production was temporarily halted on June 28 as a precautionary measure due to an anomaly detected on the field’s mobile offshore production unit. Sean Guest, President and CEO of Valeura, has announced that production will resume promptly. The company’s stock saw a 4.92% increase, trading at C$4.48 at 12:51 pm ET on Friday. An underwater inspection conducted by Valeura determined that the anomaly identified on one of the steel jack-up legs of the mobile offshore production…

Tilray Brands, a cannabis company with operations in numerous countries, has announced that its subsidiary, Aphria RX GmbH, has obtained a cannabis trading license in Germany. The German cannabis market is projected to grow significantly, from C$1.79 billion in 2024 to C$6.88 billion by 2034. Tilray is a prominent global cannabis lifestyle and consumer packaged goods organization, supporting over 20 brands and operating in various regions such as Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. Year-over-year, Tilray stock has experienced a 21.45% decrease, and since its inception in 2021, it has decreased by 86.77%. This recent development allows…

Investors have been closely considering a particular stock on the TSX today for various reasons, with recent news from the United States being a significant factor. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is considering reclassifying cannabis, pending approval through a public hearing, which could take some time to come into effect. This potential rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule III substance would have a substantial impact, as it would improve the stigma surrounding marijuana and potentially lead to more widespread acceptance by the population. This shift in perception could benefit companies like the one in…