The global economy continued to recover in the second quarter helped by the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. fiscal stimulus programs and supportive monetary policies from the Fed and other major central banks.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• S&P/TSX Composite hits an all-time high of 20,295.2 on June 16th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 4,302.43 on June 30th
• Canadian dollar hits 6-year high of $0.8328 USD on May 31st
• WTI Oil hits 32-month high on June 25th closing at $74.05 USD
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q2

Markets in the first quarter of 2021 have been marked by ongoing volatility as the world recovers from the negative effect of the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• S&P/TSX Composite hits an all-time high of 19,037.1 on March 17th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 3,994.41 on March 31st
• Canadian dollar hits 3-year high of $0.8097 USD on January 3rd
• WTI Oil hits 23-month high on March 5th closing at $66.42 USD
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q1

By Kevin Wark

Most insurance advisors are familiar with the benefits of corporate-owned life insurance. To start, it may be "cheaper" to fund the premiums with after-tax corporate dollars rather than using personal funds.

Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and renewed lockdowns in many regions, markets trended upward during the fourth quarter of 2020, boosted by growing clarity around the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and significant COVID-19 vaccine progress.

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• S&P/TSX Composite hits 9-month high of 17,684.1 on December 17th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 3,760.2 on December 31st
• Canadian dollar hits 32-month high of $0.7880 USD on December 17th
• WTI Oil hits 10-month high on December 18th closing at $49.24 USD
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q4

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 Recovering from the pandemic-related downdraft of the first quarter, financial markets enjoyed a period of relative calm and optimism through of the summer of 2020. Equity prices in many markets continued to improve, with some sectors moving sharply higher as lockdown restrictions eased and economic activity gradually resumed ...

What does everyone know about group health & dental plans? That's easy: The cost goes up every year, and selecting a specific plan design for the increasingly diverse needs of ​staff can be a challenge. 

While the first quarter of 2020 was dominated by anxiety surrounding the initial outbreak of COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns and capital market declines, the second quarter demonstrated a remarkable bounce back in those markets – even with a resurgence of the virus in the U.S. and renewed lockdown measures.