📈 Six straight weeks of gains. Tech stocks near all-time highs. And one of the biggest Trump-Xi summits in years happening this week in Beijing.

🤖 Oh — and NVIDIA reports earnings in 10 days with expectations that could reshape the AI narrative all over again.

☕ There is a lot happening. Let's cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters for your money.

🚀 Let's go!

What's Happening: 🌍 Global equity markets are on a 6-week winning streak, with tech — especially the Mag 7 and semiconductors — driving gains. Momentum, high beta, and growth stocks are leading, while value, defensive sectors, and commodities like oil have lagged.

The catalyst? A dramatic reset in US-China trade tensions. The US agreed to slash steep tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China reduced duties on US goods from 125% to 10% — a 90-day pause that brought nearly $600 billion in two-way trade back from a standstill, disrupting supply chains and triggering a sharp market rally.

And this week, President Trump flies to Beijing for a face-to-face summit with President Xi on May 14–15 — the most consequential trade meeting in years. Trader consensus sits at roughly 50/50 on whether a full tariff agreement will be reached by May 31.

Why it matters: 💡 For anyone new to investing, here is the key lesson: trade wars are inflationary. When the US and China are fighting, prices for electronics, clothing, and manufactured goods rise for everyone. When they pull back — as they are now — supply chains restart, inflation eases, and stocks rally. This is why a diplomatic meeting between two leaders 10,000 km away can move your investment portfolio by thousands of dollars in a single day.

The Takeaway: 🧠 The 90-day truce is real, but fragile. Tensions over Taiwan, rare earth minerals, and tech exports remain unresolved. Watch May 14–15 closely — a positive summit outcome could extend this six-week rally. A breakdown could reverse it fast.

What's Happening: 🏦 On April 29, the Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.25% for the fourth consecutive time — and delivered one of its most direct warnings in years.

Governor Tiff Macklem delivered three key messages: Canada is being buffeted by global events and geopolitical uncertainties, but the economy is growing and expected to continue to grow. After more than a year with inflation close to 2%, higher global energy prices are now pushing inflation up.

Macklem said future rate changes are likely to be small if the economy follows projections — but he did not rule out consecutive rate hikes if oil prices stay high and push inflation persistently higher. If the US hits Canada with sharper trade restrictions after the CUSMA review, the Bank may instead need to cut rates to support the economy.

📊 Key numbers from the April 29 decision:

The Move: 💡 Macklem's message is nuanced but clear: rates are probably where they need to be right now — but the path forward splits in two depending on oil prices and CUSMA. The Bank will not let higher energy prices become persistent inflation. If you have a mortgage renewal coming up, a shorter-term fixed rate (1–2 years) still makes more sense than locking in 5 years while this uncertainty plays out.

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA)

The World's Most Important Earnings Report — May 20

The Update 📈

🤖 NVIDIA reports its fiscal Q1 2027 earnings on May 20 — just 10 days away — and the bar has never been higher. Management guided $78 billion in revenue, representing 77% year-over-year growth. The company generated $215.9 billion in total revenue for full-year fiscal 2026 — an extraordinary achievement, and Wall Street expects fiscal 2027 to be even bigger, with revenue projected at $198.8 billion for the year.

Why I'm Interested 🤔

⚙️ NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture — described as a "thinking machine" designed for AI reasoning — is now in full-scale production across system makers and cloud service providers. Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have all placed massive orders.

🤔 What makes NVIDIA compelling for anyone learning to invest:

Morningstar Rating: ★ ★ ★

52-Week Low/High (NASDAQ): ~120.28 — $217.80

Recent Catalyst: 🔥 Full-year fiscal 2026 revenue of $215.9B, Blackwell in full production, $78B Q1 FY2027 guidance, and the Trump-Xi summit could ease export control tensions for China chip sales.

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making investment decisions.

The answer is a strategy called Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) — and it is the single most important habit any new investor can build.

What is Dollar-Cost Averaging? 📊

💡 DCA means investing a fixed dollar amount at regular intervals — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — regardless of what the market is doing.

Instead of trying to pick the "perfect moment" to invest, you invest consistently and let time do the heavy lifting.

A simple example 🧮

Imagine you invest $200/month into a Canadian ETF like XEQT.TO:

📉 When prices drop (February), your $200 buys MORE units. When prices rise, you buy fewer. Over time, your average cost per unit stays lower than if you had tried to time the market — and you build wealth automatically.

Why DCA works for new investors ✅

📱 Set up a monthly pre-authorized contribution to TFSA or RRSP at Questrade (use my referral Key 426019605447668 to get a $50 bonus) or Wealthsimple. (code, OFZZHW to receive $25 bonus) commission-free. Start with as little as $50/month on a pre-authorized contribution plan and let it grow automatically. You don't need to watch the market. You don't need to pick stocks. You just need to start.

😤 The fear of investing at a market high is one of the most common things that keeps people on the sidelines for years. Here is the honest answer.

🧠 It is almost never "too late" — but here is why that feels counterintuitive:

🎯 The only genuinely bad time to invest is when you need the money within 1–2 years. Everything else? Start. Today.

🤝 Wealth Compass is for everyone new to money and investing — whether you just arrived in Canada, just got your first paycheque, or just started thinking seriously about your financial future. You belong here.

💬 Need Personalized Guidance? For those deeper, one-on-one questions about your specific situation (Setting up TFSAs, RRSPs, FHSA, RESP, credit cards, stocks/ETFs picking or anything else!), I offer personalized coaching sessions. Learn more and book your spot! 💬

See you next week!

Warmly,
Yudara Bernard
Founder, Newcomer Wealth