🌟 Editor's Note 👋
Hello friend 👋
📈 Something shifted in markets last week, and it is worth paying attention to.
🤖 Intel just posted its most stunning earnings beat in years. Stocks are back near record highs. And right here in Canada, Prime Minister Carney just put real money back in your pocket at the gas pump.
💡 Whether you are new to investing, new to Canada, or just new to thinking about money, this week's issue is packed with things that directly affect your wallet. Right now.
🚀 Let's go!
🌍🔭 The Global Viewpoint 🌍🔭
Markets Are Rallying Through the War — Here's Why That Matters 📈 🌍 🧠
What's Happening: 📈 Despite the Strait of Hormuz still being contested, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbed to all-time highs this week following cautious ceasefire optimism, with the Nasdaq posting its 13th consecutive winning session on Friday — a streak not seen since 1992. Year-to-date through April 20, the S&P 500 is up 4.23%, and since Trump's election in November 2024, its total return has climbed more than 25%.
Here's the week's scorecard:
📈 S&P 500: +4.5% for the week — back near all-time highs
📈 Nasdaq: +6.8% — 13 consecutive winning sessions
📈 Nikkei 225 (Japan): +2.73% — hitting its own all-time high
🛢️ Oil: easing back — good news for inflation
Why it matters: 🧠 Here is the real story. Growing investor optimism over an end to hostilities in the Gulf has helped propel stocks higher but analysts warn that "complacent" investors risk getting wrong-footed as they continue to misread developments in the Iran war. The market is behaving as if the war follows the "tariff playbook" escalate, then resolve. But experts caution that Iran has a higher pain threshold than a trade negotiation, and Trump is not fully in control of events in the Middle East.
The Takeaway: 🎯 Consumer spending is still growing, earnings expectations remain strong, and tax relief continues to support the economy, those supports have helped offset pressure from tariffs, oil-price spikes, and geopolitical conflict. For anyone new to investing: this is what a resilient market looks like. It does not go straight up, but over time, it finds a way. Stay diversified. Keep contributing.
🇨🇦📈 Top Story: Canadian Market Pulse 🇨🇦📈
Carney's Majority — and the Money He Just Put Back in Your Pocket 🍁 🏛️ 💰
What's Happening: 🍁 Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Mark Carney secured Canada's first Liberal majority since 2019, winning three key by-elections in Ontario and Quebec. The Liberals now hold 174 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons. And his very first move with that new power? Money directly back in your pocket.
Starting April 20, 2026, Carney suspended the full federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel across Canada until September 7, saving Canadians roughly 10 cents per litre on gas and 4 cents per litre on diesel. The national average for a litre of gas had risen to just over $1.76, up from $1.26 before the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz.
💰 What else is coming with Carney's majority:
🏠 Housing: Major push to build more homes and cut approval timelines for large infrastructure projects
🍎 Groceries: National School Food Program made permanent — saving families with two school-age children an estimated $800/year
📲 Auto-benefits: Up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians will automatically receive benefits they qualify for starting 2026 — no application required
📱 Telecom & banking fees: New competition measures to lower phone bills and banking costs
Why it matters: 🎯 For anyone building wealth in Canada — especially those new to the financial system — a stable majority government means more predictable policy. The IMF projects Canada will be the second-fastest-growing economy in the G7 in 2026 and 2027. That is the backdrop your savings and investments are growing inside.
The Move: 📅 The Bank of Canada announces its rate decision this coming Tuesday, April 29 at 9:45 AM ET — alongside the full Monetary Policy Report. With a 93% probability of a hold at 2.25%, no surprises are expected. But the MPR's updated inflation and GDP forecasts will shape the rest of 2026. Mark it on your calendar.
🚀 Stocks on My Radar: Yudara's Watchlist 🕵️♀️ 📊
Curious about specific companies making waves? Here is a stock I'm keeping a close eye on this week, and why it's caught my attention
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC)
🤖The Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
The Update 📈
🤖 Intel just dropped one of the most shocking earnings beats in years. Q1 2026 revenue came in at $13.58 billion — crushing Wall Street's estimate of $12.42 billion. Non-GAAP earnings per share hit $0.29 versus just $0.01 expected. Shares jumped 20% in after-hours trading.
That's not a beat. That's a complete surprise.
Why I'm Interested 🤔
⚙️ Intel's Data Center and AI revenue jumped 22% year-over-year, and Intel Foundry revenue climbed 16% — the clearest evidence yet that CEO Lip-Bu Tan's turnaround plan is working.
🤔 Here is what makes Intel compelling right now for anyone new to investing:
🏭 Intel 3-based Xeon 6 and Intel 18A-based Core Series 3 products are now in full volume production ramp — and each represents the fastest new product ramp in five years
📈 Intel guided Q2 revenue between $13.8B and $14.8B — well above analyst expectations of $13.07B
🤖 The stock is up more than 80% year-to-date as of the Q1 report — after soaring 84% in 2025
💡 This is a turnaround story — the riskiest but potentially most rewarding type of investment
A word of honest caution: ⚠️ Intel still posted a GAAP net loss of $3.7 billion this quarter — driven by restructuring charges, not operations. The turnaround is real, but it is still a turnaround. Position sizing matters here. This is not a sleep-easy dividend stock like Brookfield or Chevron. It is a higher-risk, higher-reward bet on a tech giant finding its footing again in the AI era.
Morningstar Rating: ★ ★ ★
52-Week Low/High (NASDAQ): $18.51 — $87.10
Recent Catalyst: 🔥 Q1 revenue beat by $1.1B, Data Center & AI up 22%, non-GAAP EPS of $0.29 vs $0.01 expected, stock +20% after-hours.
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not investment advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making investment decisions.
💡 Newcomer Financial Fundamentals 💡
This week's focus: ETFs — The Simplest Way Anyone Can Start Investing Today 📊 💡
😮 You've heard of stocks. You've heard of RRSPs and TFSAs. But if there's one tool that makes investing accessible for anyone — new to Canada, new to money, or just new to all of this — it's the ETF.
What is an ETF?
📦 An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a basket of investments — stocks, bonds, or both — that you can buy with a single click, just like buying one stock. Instead of trying to pick individual winners, an ETF automatically spreads your money across dozens or hundreds of companies at once.
Think of it like this: instead of betting on one restaurant succeeding, you buy a small piece of every restaurant in the city. If one closes, the others carry you.
Why ETFs are perfect for beginners 🎯
💰 Instant diversification — one purchase = exposure to hundreds of companies
💸 Low cost — most index ETFs charge as little as 0.05–0.20% per year in fees (vs. 1.5–2.5% for traditional mutual funds)
📈 Proven track record — a simple S&P 500 ETF has returned an average of 10% annually over the last 30 years
🍁 Works in your TFSA or RRSP — all gains grow completely tax-free or tax-deferred
Three starter ETFs worth knowing 📊
ETF | What it holds | Why it's popular |
|---|---|---|
XEQT.TO (TSX) | 9,000+ global stocks | One-fund solution — global diversification |
VFV.TO (TSX) | S&P 500 (500 US companies) | Own the biggest US companies in Canadian $ |
ZAG.TO (TSX) | Canadian bonds | Lower risk, steady income |
The Move ✅
📱 You can buy any of these ETFs inside your 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.
🔥 Community Corner: Connect & Grow! 🤝🌱
"Intel is up 80% this year — did I miss the boat?" 🤖 This is the question hitting the community inbox after this week's earnings explosion.
😤 It's the most human reaction in investing — you hear about a stock after it's already up big, and you feel like you missed it forever.
🧠 Here is the honest framework:
🟢 A stock being up 80% is not evidence it can't go higher. Amazon was up 80% many times on its way to being worth $2 trillion. What matters is whether the business fundamentals support further growth — and Intel's turnaround story is still in its early chapters
🟡 But it IS evidence the easy money has been made. Buying Intel at $18 two years ago was a different risk/reward than buying at $50 today. The margin of safety is smaller
🔴 Don't buy anything just because it went up big. That's called momentum investing — and it works until suddenly it doesn't. Always ask: do I understand what this company does, and do I believe in where it's going?
💡 For anyone new to investing, Intel is a great stock to watch and learn from — even if you don't buy it. Follow the quarterly earnings, read what analysts say, and use it as a live classroom. That is how investing knowledge is actually built.
🤝 The Newcomer Wealth Community — for everyone new to money and investing! Whether you arrived in Canada last year or just started thinking about your financial future for the first time — join us. This is exactly what we are here for.
💬 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
Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice tailored to your specific circumstances. Investing involves risk.