Hello Trade Secrets subscribers,

Welcome to March! Aside from the official start of spring later this month, The Globe and Mail’s next Trade Off competition is set to begin in just a few weeks.

For those of you who participated in the inaugural contest that ended last month, you’ll know it’s a fantastic way to learn about the markets, whether you’re building a virtual portfolio, testing new investing strategies or just following the action.

Of course, a new month in the markets brings new trading considerations. Tech ultimately was a huge factor for some of the standout portfolios in the first Trade Off contest. These days, investors seem to be navigating fresh layers to the AI story, additional geopolitical jitters, and a market rotation, which we discuss in greater detail below.

But that is the essence of the stock market. Every new day brings new challenges and opportunities for investors. And if you’re new to investing, Trade Off is a really great way to get a feel for how the market moves.

The reality is that for many Canadians, life is feeling increasingly unaffordable. But there’s more knowledge being shared about building wealth than ever before, and the rise of the DIY (do-it-yourself) investor means that you are not alone in your investing journey.

Most of the recent money flows have suggested the market is shifting. U.S. investment strategists at Goldman Sachs said in a recent report that portfolio turnover is at its highest since 2021. After years of the Magnificent Seven tech giants leading the rally, investors are trimming positions and moving into mid-caps, cyclicals, and international stocks, including Canadian ones.

Veteran Wall Street pundit Ed Yardeni called it the “great valuation rotation” in one of his recent notes to clients. That’s not to say the tech pullback is a bad thing. In Mr. Yardeni’s opinion, the sell-off made the market less vulnerable to, say, a crash, and other sectors are finally getting a chance to deliver for investors. With that in mind, you’ll find plenty of pros who remain bullish, including the research team at JPMorgan. They suggested in a recent report that any hiccups that arise from worries out of Washington or anywhere else should be seen as a potential buying opportunity.

The Globe and Mail has countless tools and sections that can help you to become a more-informed investor. As a starting point, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the markets data section of the Globe’s site, which gives you an updated look at both market moves and news on a single page.

There are also ways to connect and learn live, including The Globe’s upcoming virtual gathering, where you can hear from financial experts and advisers who will share strategies you can implement now, regardless of your starting point.

Finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed as tax-filing season approaches – or just want to make the most of your money – check out the personal finance team’s in-depth coverage.

That’s all for now. Remember to get ready for the return of Trade Off later this month!

Cheers,

Jon

Jon Erlichman is the founder of Ticker Take on YouTube and a contributor to BNN Bloomberg.