Thanksgiving 2022

Heading into the long Thanksgiving Day weekend here in Canada, the stock markets started strong in the first full week of October, 2022. But, fell back after a couple days where optimism gave way to that there is no real change with the issues like inflation and interest rate hikes among others in the final quarter of the year.

It's no doubt safer to keep funds in cash during these volatile times but where I seek cash dividends from companies and banks, I prefer the lower cost of stocks during these times. Eventually, things will be more positive again, Probably well into 2023 from the latest news but current events can change quickly and on the fly.

So far these past weeks, Bitcoin keeps coming back to the 20 grand range with it's highs and lows. Kind of more stable than stocks these days ... but it can get into that volatile mood as well without notice.

I follow both Markets on a daily basis although after I research and but a stock or ETF, I keep it long term for the dividends and reassess probably every 6 months or so. 

I continue to focus on energy, pipeline related and banks this year. With the recent OPEC production cut and oil rising in price, oil companies are raking in more cash which makes the dividends they pass onto investors safer while some forecast higher dividends going forward ...  depending on what companies. Names like Enbridge, TC Energy Corp and Fortis come to mind of the many out there and across the border into the US.

Meanwhile, I've been thinking about the wearing of the Mask, started when the Covid hit us in 2020.

I can't recall a sore throat, cold or flu during that time, wearing the Mask when in shops, etc. I've stopped wearing it the last few weeks and boom, got flattened with a congested chest and sore throat. Cold Meds are back in high demand. I can certainly see it makes a difference wearing the Mask during our annual fall flu season and specially when the kids are back in school, which tends to spread it faster.

However, the world has moved on from the covid although it's still all around us and back to the coughs and sniffles with colder days after a hot and muggy summer.