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February 2026
Global equity markets began the year on a positive note, with major indices advancing despite intermittent volatility. While geopolitical tensions and tariff uncertainty remain risk factors, the broader macroeconomic environment is constructive. The IMF upgraded its projection for global real GDP growth in 2026 to 3.3% from 3.1%. Stabilizing labour conditions, accommodative monetary policy, and fiscal expansion will provide support to world output. Against this backdrop, equity valuations within certain segments of the market have become increasingly stretched. The recent pullback in software stocks, amid concerns around AI disruption, serves as a warning that elevated valuations can be quickly repriced when expectations shift. We continue to exercise caution, realizing gains in select holdings that have approached or exceeded our fair assessment of their intrinsic value.
Across our global balanced and global equity strategies, sales have modestly exceeded purchases since the start of the year. Of note, we trimmed positions in copper-related companies, such as Lundin Mining, Hudbay Materials, and Teck Resources, as their share prices and valuations extended beyond our assessment of intrinsic value.
Copper prices have surged approximately 40% over the last twelve months, driven in part by recent announcements of production disruption and the high accumulation of copper inventories in the U.S. in anticipation of potential tariffs. Longer-term structural demand for copper, underpinned by its important role in electrification and transition toward sustainable energy, has also supported the metal’s price over recent years.
While we reduced our exposure to these mining companies in order to manage valuation risk, their underlying fundamentals are attractive, and our medium-term outlook for copper remains optimistic. These and other sales have contributed to a buildup of cash reserves within equity mandates and brought balanced mandates closer to target asset allocations.
The current environment underscores the importance of maintaining price discipline amid strong market performance and a patient approach to investing. Periods of volatility and market dislocations can provide opportunities to redeploy capital into quality companies at compelling valuations. By combining a defensively positioned portfolio with this tactical flexibility, we believe that we are well-positioned to navigate evolving conditions while remaining focused on long-term value creation.
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