This period (July 16 – 31), the TSX Venture continued its descent to close at 706 (-2.62%) by the end of the month—a low that for many investors harkens back to the Venture’s depressed performance last seen in the summer of 2016. While 2016 saw a number of divisive political issues (the death of the original Trans-Pacific Partnership and Britain’s tumultuous “Brexit” to name a few), investors on the TSX Venture are coming face to face with a new kind of political beast: the possibility of a full-blown trade war, in addition to recent stirrings of a currency war. In combination, these two types of economic wars can introduce a kind of “feedback loop” for protectionism (amongst a host of other adverse economic effects) that threaten not just the investor, but the future growth of small-cap companies.
Economic Wars Bring Headwinds For Small-Cap Companies
While trade wars and currency wars are inherently different, their consequences can be rather similar. Both can lead to greater protectionism, and both can lead to trade volatility—which could ultimately hinder foreign investment. In tandem, their effects are only multiplied.
Small cap companies have been often regarded as a safe haven during the ongoing trade war, largely due to the fact that the bulk of their sales come from domestic sources. However, this does not discount the fact that the negative effects of a global trade war could pose a significant problem for the growth of small cap companies–specifically Canadian ones–as Canadian small caps often depend on American companies for their expertise and know-how. With trade relations between Canada and U.S. worsening, the aforementioned headwinds (protectionism, trade volatility, and deterred foreign investment) are just some of the effects that could make business with American firms too costly, too difficult, or just too unattractive for small Canadian public companies to engage in.
While domestic alternatives may exist for Canadian small caps, its difficult to argue against the benefit of stronger U.S.-Canadian trade relations, especially when it comes to the sharing of technical expertise–and the mutual economic growth that could result.
3 Of The Best Performing Dollar Active Stocks On The TSX Venture
1. Eastwood Bio-Medical Canada Inc. (TSXV: EBM) 0.25 to 1.01 (+304%) — 10 Day Average Trading Volume: 348,801
On July 23, 2018, Eastwood Bio-Medical Canada Inc. underwent an IIROC Trading Halt, and resumed trading the same day.
(See more here)
2. Covalon Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: COV) 7.99 to 8.95 (+12.02%) — 10 Day Average Trading Volume: 41,846
On July 26, 2018, Covalon Technologies Ltd. announced that one of the members of their Board of Directors, Martin Bernholtz, was retiring effective July 31, 2018.
(See more here)
3. Hut 8 Mining Corp. (TSXV: HUT) 2.59 to 2.90 (+11.97%) — 10 Day Average Trading Volume: 50,110
The upwards trend began on July 16, 2018, as Hut 8 Mining Corp. announced that they were completing construction of their Medicine Hat Facility ahead of schedule.
(See more here)
3 Of The Worst Performing Dollar Active Stocks On The TSX Venture
1. QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (TSXV: QMC) 0.40 to 0.245 (-38.75%) — 10 Day Average Trading Volume: 101,450
2. Petroteq Energy Inc. (TSXV: PQE) 1.41 to 1.00 (-29.08%) — 10 Day Average Trading Volume: 260,207
The downwards trend began on July 17, 2018 and carried through the rest of the month amidst news of Petroteq Energy Inc. issuing new securities.
(See more here)
3. Essa Pharma Inc. (TSXV: EPI) 5.00 to 3.90 (-22.00%) — 10 Day Average Trading Volume: 404
The Future of Innovation: North American Small-Caps
From Thomas Edison to Nikola Tesla, it’s no secret that America has long been a source of innovation. But how did it happen?
Harvard Business Review suggests that the rampant innovation seen in America between the late 19th and early 20th centuries (dubbed the “Golden Age of Invention”) was the byproduct of several key trade conditions…
” . . . innovation flourished in densely populated areas where people could interact with one another, where capital markets to finance innovation were strong, and where inventors had access to well-connected markets.”
The above principles could serve as a general rule of thumb for what separates an innovative country from a stagnant one.
Today more than ever, small-caps are looked to for innovation. But with the shadow of trade and currency wars looming over them, once interconnected markets are becoming fragmented…
… And as international trade relations fall apart, innovation could be stifled—resulting in depressed small-cap growth. Furthermore, with the rhetoric around trade wars increasing, its important for investors to distinguish between the psychological and real-world effects of such rhetoric; Canadian small caps have much to lose from the trade wars, but much to gain should they subside.
