The 10-Minute Take Podcast

Why markets will remain volatile (to a degree) through the U.S. election

'The 10-Minute Take’ podcast provides insights from RBC economists and market experts on events unfolding around the globe.

Why markets will remain volatile (to a degree) through the U.S. election

Published October 8, 2020

Featuring George Davis, RBC Capital Markets’ Chief Technical Strategist

Global markets have been bouncing up and down since President Trump announced he tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Add to this the on-again, off-again stimulus talks ahead of the already-contested November 3rd U.S. election and you have a recipe for political uncertainty and increased market volatility. And yet, volatility has been relatively muted — pullbacks have been shallow while upsides have been capped. Are we seeing a paradigm shift in risk tolerance? George Davis, RBC Capital Markets’ Chief Technical Strategist in Foreign Exchange Trading, shares what’s surprised him about recent market movements.


Why the airline industry is bracing for more turbulence

Published September 30, 2020

Featuring Walter Spracklin, Transportation and Industrials Analyst at RBC Capital Markets

If you felt your travel plans were disappointing this summer, spare a thought for the airline industry. Border restrictions, travel advisories, mandatory self-quarantine… policies that are critical for public health have been devastating to carriers, which are hemorrhaging millions of dollars each day. When will travel get back to normal? How does the propensity to travel differ across classifications? And how are carriers convincing customers that it’s safe to fly again? Walter Spracklin, Transportation and Industrials Analyst at RBC Capital Markets, shares what the airline industry needs to recover from the COVID crisis.


How COVID created a supercharged summer housing market

Published August 12, 2020

Featuring Robert Hogue, RBC Senior Economist

Across Canada, the housing market rebounded as pent-up demand pumped up sales volumes and prices in June and July. Montreal, for example, set a new record – 46% jump in year-over-year sales. The pandemic has also shifted preferences, as more homebuyers venture to the suburbs in favour of space and greenery (putting a damper on the previously-hot urban condo market). Will we see this activity extend into the fall? And has COVID created a fundamental change in buying behaviour? RBC Senior Economist Robert Hogue shares his outlook on the housing market.


Why the post-pandemic office building will be greener and costlier

Published August 5, 2020

Featuring Deane Dray, RBC Capital Markets’ Multi-Industry and Electrical Equipment Senior Equity Analyst

When we (eventually) return to the office, it will look and feel very different. Picture screening technologies, touchless credentials, roomy elevators. Imagine breathing cleaner air. Of course, all of these COVID-prompted upgrades won’t come cheap. To get tenants comfortably back in buildings, landlords will have to make expensive, but necessary, retrofits. Will there still be enough demand for commercial buildings? And could this lead to more ESG investment into the industrial sector? Deane Dray, Multi-Industry and Electrical Equipment Senior Equity Analyst at RBC Capital Markets, walks us through the post-pandemic landscape for office buildings.


Why markets are edging higher in spite of cautious corporates

Published July 22, 2020

Featuring Lori Calvasina, RBC Capital Markets’ Head of U.S. Equity Strategy

As we head into a pivotal period of the current earnings season, tech stocks have buoyed key Wall Street indices – Nasdaq, for one, briefly hit another record high earlier this week. But what’s on the ticker doesn’t necessarily reflect what’s on the horizon. The COVID crisis in the U.S. is worsening, while Congress and the White House square off over another aid package. Even c-suite executives are openly sharing their concerns on the economic recovery. How might the rest of earnings season play out? And what do the latest rallies reveal about consumer sentiment? Lori Calvasina, RBC Capital Markets’ Head of U.S. Equity Strategy, shares what’s beneath the latest market movements.


U.S. oil demand sputters as lockdowns tighten

Published July 15, 2020

Featuring Michael Tran, RBC Capital Markets’ Global Energy Strategist

Four months into the COVID pandemic and some Americans have hit lockdown fatigue, if traffic data is any indication. Take Las Vegas, which has seen flight activity increase steadily over the last six weeks. Or Houston, where traffic was up and down leading into the 4th of July holiday. Contrast this with Europe and China, which have emerged from lockdowns and are back to near normal activity. How will mobility patterns shift as U.S. re-openings continue to stop and start? And how will this erratic demand affect oil prices? Michael Tran, RBC Capital Markets’ Global Energy Strategist, shares his insights from real-time traffic data during the pandemic.


How the crisis became prime time for Amazon

Published June 26, 2020

Featuring Mark Mahaney, RBC Capital Markets’ Internet Analyst

While most people have been under lockdowns, The Everything Store has been everywhere. The explosive demand for online shopping and surge in remote work have been boons for both Amazon’s core retail offering and AWS, its cloud computing business. But can the company capture and sustain this once-in-a-generation opportunity? And how will ongoing antitrust probes in both the U.S. and E.U. affect its growth? Mark Mahaney, RBC Capital Markets’ Internet Analyst, shares his take on Amazon.


Corporate America’s moment of truth on racism

Published June 15, 2020

Featuring Michael Carter, RBC Capital Markets’ Global Head of Technology Investment Banking and a member of the Washington-based Executive Leadership Council

Ongoing protests against racism and violence towards Black communities have hit a boiling point, forcing companies everywhere to re-examine their practices and histories. In addition to questions about police practices and systemic racism across all parts of society, corporate America is being challenged anew on its own record. Black executives hold only 3% of leadership roles in U.S. companies, and only 2% of venture capital dollars goes to African American entrepreneurs. What more can the private sector do? Michael Carter, RBC Capital Markets’ Global Head of Technology Investment Banking and a member of the Washington-based Executive Leadership Council, shares his perspective on how companies can confront racism.


The geopolitics of OPEC+ oil cuts

Published June 10, 2020

Featuring Helima Croft, RBC Capital Markets’ Global Head of Commodity Strategy

The global group of oil producing countries, known as OPEC+, left its key weekend meeting fractured. While OPEC+ agreed to extend production cuts through to July, its de facto leader Saudi Arabia said it would not. Neither would fellow Gulf states, and Mexico. Add to this an improving (but fragile) demand picture and it could explain why oil prices have been whipsawing since. How will this play out for the oil majors? And where was President Trump this time around? Helima Croft, RBC Capital Markets’ Global Head of Commodity Strategy, shares her take on the latest OPEC+ deal.


Why gold is glittering while markets churn

Published May 20, 2020

Featuring Chris Louney, RBC Capital Markets’ Commodity Strategist

Gold prices have surged during the COVID crisis, driven by low rates and aggressive policy measures to stimulate the economy and investors looking to hedge risks in the market – which explains why gold is staying high even as equities rally. Will the bulls of bullion continue to prevail? And what impact might the eventual recovery have? Chris Louney, RBC Capital Markets’ Commodity Strategist, joins us with the outlook on gold.


Can business stimulus hasten the “swoosh” recovery?

Published May 13, 2020

Featuring Craig Wright, RBC’s Chief Economist

Hopes for a V-shaped recovery – a short, sharp collapse followed by a bounce-back to pre-crisis activity – have been replaced by expectations of a “swoosh.” That is, a large drop followed by a slow incline. To bend the curve, Canadian policy makers have focused the latest round of relief on business. But how effective can these new measures be when much of the economy remains closed? Craig Wright, RBC’s Chief Economist, joins us with his outlook for the private sector and a broader recovery.


China’s economic recovery still a long way off, despite official reports

Published May 8, 2020

Featuring Leland Miller, CEO of China Beige Book International

China has touted economic re-opening as the central government’s triumph over the COVID-19 virus. But though firms are back to work and factories are up and running, growth hasn’t recovered. In fact, privately gathered data suggest China’s economy continues to struggle. Can the government do more than reopen factories? And what will it take to get Chinese consumers shopping, travelling, and spending again? Leland Miller, CEO of China Beige Book International, joins us our podcast to explain what the official numbers don’t.


Why ESG is outperforming the market

Published April 22, 2020

Featuring Lindsay Patrick, RBC Capital Markets’ Head of Sustainable Finance

On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, sustainability may seem like the last thing on a troubled market’s mind. And yet, through the crisis, ESG-focused investments have outperformed the market, and may be positioned to excel as governments design the biggest stimulus investments in history. Lindsay Patrick, RBC Capital Markets’ Head of Sustainable Finance, joins us to discuss how sustainability will shape the post-crisis rebuild.


How COVID-19 is affecting investment strategies

Published April 17, 2020

Featuring Stu Kedwell, RBC Global Asset Management’s Co-Head of North American Equities

The global pandemic has roiled financial markets and changed the game for investors. For the past several weeks, investors have been tested on multiple fronts: lower risk premiums thanks to unprecedented central bank stimulus, disrupted business models, and their own emotions. Stu Kedwell, RBC Global Asset Management’s Co-Head of North American Equities, joins us on the podcast to share his perspective on how investment strategies are changing amid the crisis.


Quiet Resilience in Canada's Housing Markets

Published April 15, 2020

Featuring Robert Hogue, RBC Senior Economist

Wednesday saw the release of startling economic numbers, particularly Canada's GDP down 9% for March. That's not the only figure in decline - national home sales are also down 14. Prices, however, have remained relatively stable as supply dropped in proportion to demand. RBC Senior Economist Robert Hogue joins our podcast to discuss the outlook on housing.


How Big Tech is using a downturn to its advantage

Published April 14, 2020

Featuring Mark Mahaney, RBC Capital Markets’ Internet Analyst

Amazon’s stock surged this week, hitting a new all-time high on Tuesday. The latest spark: Online shopping for basics like groceries is so intense that Amazon announced plans to hire 75,000 more workers, on top of the 100,000 it’s already added in the crisis. And it’s not the only one thriving in the face of dramatic shifts in consumer behaviour. Mark Mahaney, RBC Capital Markets’ Internet analyst, joins our podcast to talk about how the pandemic is leading to enduring changes in the way we shop – and how other Big Tech players like Google and Facebook may fare.


A Downturn Like No Other

Published April 9, 2020

Featuring Craig Wright, SVP and Chief Economist, RBC

This may be the darkest quarter on record for the Canadian economy. Our consumer-driven economy could make a rebuild even tougher, as we all tend to our wounds and avoid public places for months to come. As GDP declines and unemployment reaches unprecedented levels this quarter, it may be hard to spot silver linings. But come 2021, low interest rates and pent-up demand should get growth headed back to normal. RBC's Chief Economist Craig Wright joins our podcast to discuss his latest macro forecast.


Have Markets Found a Bottom?

Published March 23, 2020

Featuring Craig Wright, SVP and Chief Economist, RBC

After one month of declines, 10,000 points off the Dow and a lot of “announcement indigestion,” RBC’s Chief Economist Craig Wright says markets are still searching for a bottom. They’re unsure of how to price so much new risk, all at once. Central banks are also struggling to assert themselves, while governments have not been able to get enough new money into the economy. Even when the trillion-dollar checks are cut, will consumers spend and businesses invest?


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