September 2026 Global Markets Commentary Brent Joyce, CFA, Chief Investment Strategist Sensational and Sensationalism "The one function that TV news performs very well is that, when there is no news, we give it to you with the same emphasis as if it were.” – David Brinkley, 1920-2003, American television news anchor
August was a sensational month. In fact, sensational has two main meanings: exceedingly good (not the usage we mean for the progress of Canada-U.S. trade talks) and sensationalized or presenting information in a way intended to provoke hyped-up public interest, excitement or concern (that’s the one that applies to media coverage of the tariff “wars”). Both usages of sensational apply to the events of August.
Thankfully, the exceedingly good events were the ones that moved markets. It was an outcome many found surprising and hard to understand – and, as Canadians, perhaps even a bit guilt-inducing. (What? My neighbour could be laid off because of AI or the trade war, yet I made money in stocks – even my Canadian ones?)
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