September was another volatile month for equity markets as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite benchmarks ended Q3 lower (in local currency terms), marking the first time they posted losses for three consecutive quarters since the period around the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. The selloff was spurred by growing concerns that central bank policymakers may trigger a recession as they raise interest rates to fight decades-high inflation. Investors are focusing on earnings for relief, but the coming earnings season could very well be fraught with slashed forecasts and worsening fundamentals tied to persistent inflation, rising interest rates and slowing economic growth. Canada’s benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index was 4.6% lower in September, resulting in a 2.2% decline for the benchmark in Q3. Seven of the benchmark’s underlying sectors were negative during the quarter, led by telecommunication services and real estate, with losses of 8.7% and 7.3%, respectively. Small-cap stocks, as measured by the S&P/TSX SmallCap Index, slid by 3.0% for the quarter. The U.S. dollar appreciated by 7.2% versus the loonie during Q3, providing a boost to returns of foreign markets from a Canadian investor’s standpoint. Note that all returns in this paragraph are in CAD terms. U.S.-based stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, declined 4.6% in September, but managed to finish the quarter 1.4% higher. The benchmark’s quarterly gain was led by the consumer discretionary and energy sectors, with respective returns of 11.5% and 8.3%. International stocks, as measured by the FTSE Developed ex US Index, lost 3.8% during the quarter, while emerging markets lost 5.1%.Canadian investment-grade bonds, as measured by the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index, was up 0.5% during the quarter. The key global investment-grade bond benchmark and global high-yield issues were down6.9% and 0.9%, respectively, during the quarter. Turning to commodities, the price of a barrel of crude oil plummeted 24.8%in the third quarter, while natural gas surged 24.7%. Copper, silver and gold had a negative quarter, with respective losses of 8.1%, 6.1% and 8.0%.Inflation in Canada rose 7.0% year-over-year in August, down from a 7.6%gain in July. This marked the second consecutive slowdown in year-over-year price growth and was largely driven by lower gasoline prices. The Canadian economy lost 40,000 jobs in August, as the nation’s unemployment rate declined to 5.4%. The Bank of Canada increased the policy rate by 75 basis points to 3.25%, reaching a level not seen since 2008.

To view the full report, click here.