Musk meddling could be at root of Tesla stock’s tank
Tesla’s stock price nosedived in the first few months of the second Trump administration, and Elon Musk’s involvement in controversial initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency’s wide-ranging cuts to the public service could have a lot to do with it. But also may not, according to Jiro E. Kondo, an Assistant Professor of Finance at McGill Desautels.
Confused by the pace of economic change? Mathematical models are too
In times of great economic uncertainty, even institutional traders can be at a loss for how to manage a portfolio. At large pension funds, portfolio managers use data-driven models to assess risk and allocate assets. But even the most advanced economic models struggle to make sense of economic scenarios that change rapidly and in unpredictable ways.
Carney’s pro-Canada rhetoric helps bring Liberal Party back from the brink of near-certain election defeat
In a time of great uncertainty, voter preferences in Canada have undergone a historic shift. Just a few months ago, voters were tired of Trudeau and a Conservative victory seemed all but assured. But Mark Carney has brought the party back from the brink. He has only been prime minister for a short time, but the role has rarely been as closely watched as during the Trump trade war.
Trump tariffs induce uncertainty
Canada fared better many countries when US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on his so-called Liberation Day. But in this time of tariff turbulence, stability is a rare and fleeting commodity. And we never know when we’ll end up in the crosshairs of a presidential tariff tantrum.
McGill teams shine at L’Oréal Brandstorm 2025 Case Competition
McGill students continue to make their mark on the national stage through the L’Oréal Brandstorm Case Competition, one of the world’s leading innovation challenges for students under 30.
SUSANhub is a vast growing resource for collaboration in sustainability research
Universities are typically organized into silos – engineering, business, medicine – but sustainability requires collaboration across these fields.
Chinese tech firm DeepSeek shows smaller firms can compete with tech giants in AI
When OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022, the hype around AI began building to a fever pitch. Big money poured in to big tech, sending the stock of companies like Microsoft and Nvidia soaring. But a December 2024 AI chatbot release from a much smaller Chinese tech firm is showing that generative AI can be built a much more modest budget. “Deepseek shows that smaller companies with more limited resources can compete with tech giants,” Prof.
Proposed tax cuts will benefit working people, but also high income earners
The federal election campaign is well underway, and the leaders of the Liberal and Conservative parties are both proposing tax cuts for the lowest income tax bracket. Income up to $57,375 is currently taxed at a rate of 15%, and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has proposed a 2.25% reduction to this rate. For his part, Liberal leader Mark Carney is proposing a 1% reduction. In either case, the tax savings do not just benefit the lowest income earners.
Canada’s big pension funds hold lessons for funds elsewhere
Canada’s big pension funds are the envy of fund managers in other countries. They’re something that the UK’s defined contribution plance could aspire to, writes Padraig Floyd in Pensions Expert. “They’re all public, but they’re run like private sector corporations,” said Prof. Sebastien Betermier.
International diversification helps hedge against Trump tariff risk
US tariffs are a concern for all Canadians—and companies on both sides of the border stand to lose out. But investors shouldn’t necessarily head for the exits, according to Benjamin Croitoru, an associate professor of finance at McGill Desautels. “Emotion is a bad financial advisor,” Croitoru told Radio-Canada.
Tariff-induced economic uncertainty is affecting Canadians’ purchasing decisions
Even as the venerable Hudson’s Bay Company liquidates its iconic department stores, some Canadian retailers are experiencing a renaissance. Quebec department store has been expanding, even as others struggle to stay in the black. But Trump’s tariffs are clouding the future for Canadian retailers.
Identifying tariffed products could be seen as attempt to mask increased margins
Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, frequent tariff threats have disrupted the economy. It is difficult to keep track of which products will be tariffed, when they will be tariffed, and how much they will be tariffed by. But Provigo stores in Quebec are taking steps that will help shoppers understand the factors that affect the price of their groceries. They are developing signage that will mark tariffed items with a “T” to explain price hikes.
Buy Canadian movement shouldn’t interfere with prudent pension fund management
The Trump administration’s tariffs have catalyzed a cross-country movement to buy Canadian products. But will that movement affect the how Canada’s big pension funds manage their portfolios? The eight largest pension plans in Canada hold more than $2 trillion in assets, but only about a quarter of those assets are Canadian.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio helps decipher Trump administration goals
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the least controversial cabinet appointments made by President Donald Trump. During this turbulent time in geopolitics, the stature of the former Florida senator is rising, according to Newsweek. It’s a high-stakes role, and for countries like Canada, Rubio has become a kind of interlocutor that helps interpret information coming out of the White House.
