Top 10 Best Ideas and Most-Read Articles of 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, we revisit the most-read articles published on BMO Fund Central over the last 12 months. Some themes that resonated with our Advisor community this year included artificial intelligence (AI), monetary policy, interest rate paths, and Canadian banks.
December 2024
The past 12 months were surely eventful. We saw central banks take the leap and cut interest rates, the U.S. economy go from potential recession to resilience, gold topping record highs, a steady uptick in volatility in the lead-up to the hotly contested U.S. presidential election, a new administration voted into power, and proposed tariffs. As we head into the new year, we take a look back at the most popular topics we tackled, from monetary policy to Canadian banks—and everything in between.
Here are the top 10 most-read articles from the year gone by:
10. The Bond Market is in Flux. Here's What you Can Do. (May 2024) | Read Time: 5 Minutes
Amid rate-cut delays and potential divergence in central bank policy, the bond market remained volatile. Our portfolio managers took a deep dive into what was driving the market uncertainty and provided a refined fixed income playbook.
9. Three Reasons to De-Risk Your Portfolio (July 2024) |Read Time: 5 Minutes
Earlier this summer, equity markets approached, and in some cases surpassed, record highs—which led us to question if there was still a case for volatility. We took this into consideration, assessing perceived future risks in Canadian, U.S., and global markets and revealing three ways investors could de-risk their portfolios.
8. Two Sectors That Could Define the Next Decade (April 2024) | Read Time: 6 Minutes
Who will emerge as the winners and losers from the transition to AI? Michael Hughes, Client Portfolio Manager for the BMO Concentrated Global Equity Fund (CGE) and BMO Concentrated Global Balanced Fund, shares why his team isn’t necessarily looking for capital-rich or asset-rich companies but for data-rich ones amid the artificial intelligence boom—and the innovations revolutionizing the Health Care sector in 2024.
7. Four Reasons Why Mid- and Small-Caps Look Poised to Outperform (October 2024) | Read Time: 4.5 Minutes
For a lot of investors, the idea of a broader risk rally outside of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ requires clearing a few mental hurdles. Nevertheless, given current valuations, those who choose to increase allocations to small and mid-caps at this point in the monetary policy cycle may expect to be rewarded. Here’s why.
6. The Evolution of Structured Products Continues (July 2024) | Read Time: 6 Minutes
In July, we celebrated year two of the BMO Strategic Equity Yield Fund (SEYF). Sara Petrcich, Head of ETF and Structured Solutions, and Acushla Vestby, Managing Director and Head, Structured Solutions and National Accounts, sat down to reflect on BMO GAM’s vision for structured solutions and how Advisors have been using SEYF, and introduced our new fixed income-oriented yield strategy.
5. Standing the Test of Time: 60/40 Portfolios Still Deliver Persistent Gains (September 2024) | Read Time: 5 Minutes
In 2022, the most classic basket of investments—the so-called 60/40 portfolio—saw its worst year since 1974.1 But the principals of sound investing endure. All losses associated with a model U.S.-based portfolio with a 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds have been fully clawed back—showing how the 60/40 is standing the test of time.
4. From Farmer to Sun Life Advisor: A 10-Year Plan Gone Horribly Right (June 2024) | Read Time: 7 Minutes
After transitioning from life on a farm to a successful career in finance, one Advisor shares how growing up in rural Saskatchewan taught him the value of money—and how farming and finance might not be as different as you think.
3. A Tale of Two Countries: How the U.S. and Canada Ended Up on Different Economic Paths (February 2024) | Read Time: 8 Minutes
Canada and the United States are among the closest trading partners in the world. But in 2024 their economies have gone down different roads, with the U.S. showing resilient growth while Canada narrowly avoided a recession. How is this kind of divergence possible? Here is a breakdown of the key structural and policy differences between the two countries.
2. Chart: Canadian Banks Have Not Underperformed Three Years in a Row in Over Half a Century (January 2024) | Read Time: 3 Minutes
In 2023, the “Big Six” underperformed the S&P/TSX composite index for the second consecutive year following a challenging stretch for Financials. History shows, however, that darkness often precedes the dawn. This chart demonstrates the Canadian bank index has not underperformed relative to the S&P/TSX Composite Index three years in a row in over 50 years.
1. Three Reasons Why Canadian Banks Could Rebound in 2024 (January 2024) | Read Time: 6 Minutes
Sohrab Movahedi, Managing Director, Financials Research, BMO Capital Markets, reveals the three big reasons he believed the “Big Six” were primed for a bounce-back in 2024, including one compelling statistic (chart inside).
For a robust Mutual Fund search, Top Fund Ideas, PM Insights, Business Building Ideas, and an ESG hub, explore BMO Fund Central. For strategies and insights to further enrich your practice, contact your BMO Global Asset Management Regional Sales Representative.
1 Data provided by Prof. Aswath Damodaran, NYU Stern. The Wall Street Journal, August 23, 2024.
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This article was published on Monday, December 16, 2024.
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