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This week in Trumponomics: Playing chicken with markets

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This week in Trumponomics: Playing chicken with markets

In the traditional game of chicken, two drivers speed toward each until one loses his nerve and swerves off the road. In Donald Trump’s version of the game, everybody sustains some damage.

Trump has been testing the tolerance of financial markets since his first day in office by disassembling government agencies, canceling federal spending, and mounting a trade war with numerous economic partners. Investors have been trying to gauge how disruptive Trump will ultimately be and whether he’ll cause temporary or lasting damage.

Less than two months into his term, Trump has now driven the stock market into a ditch. Markets didn’t flinch much when Trump imposed his first set of tariffs on Chinese imports in February. The 10% levy was less than Trump had threatened, and investors saw it coming.

The stakes grew considerably the week of March 3, when Trump announced another 10% tariff on Chinese imports and a much stiffer 25% tax on imports from Canada and Mexico. America’s northern and southern neighbors are its largest trading partners, and the 25% tax would sharply raise the cost of nearly $1 trillion worth of goods, including cars and car parts, food, construction materials, and energy.

Read more: What Trump’s tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

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The stock market buckled. Trump promptly began backtracking on the North American tariffs, offering temporary exemptions for key categories of products. Yet Trump continues to say more tariffs are coming on European imports and many other products from nations he considers to be unfair trade partners.

SNP – Delayed Quote USD

At close: March 7 at 4:43:27 PM EST

Markets are now pricing in more damage from tariffs than they were a few weeks ago, along with rising odds of a recession. The S&P 500 lost 3.5% the week of March 3, with Trump’s retreat on tariffs doing little to calm markets. US stocks are underperforming those in Europe and many other markets.

Investor views of Trump’s economic plans are rapidly souring. “Trump tariff push descends into farce,” Capital Economics declared in a March 7 analysis. “For those keeping score, Trump has now imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico then almost immediately performed a full U-turn twice in a month.” The research firm points out that since Trump’s reprieve is only supposed to last until April 2, more lurches are probably coming.

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An inflatable chicken mimicking US President Donald Trump is set up on The Ellipse, a 52-acre (21-hectare) park located just south of the White House and north of the Washington Monument (rear). (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) · MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images

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Trump’s latest tariff action led Goldman Sachs to reduce its estimate for economic growth this year from 2.2% to 1.7%. The firm’s inflation forecast rose from 2.1% to 3%. Morgan Stanley made similar downgrades. Trump’s approval rating is also slipping, and that’s in polls taken before the early March sell-off. Americans worried about the price of eggs and other items, meanwhile, heard Trump’s Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins suggest on March 2 that they should start raising chickens in their backyards.

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BofA revises Harley-Davidson stock price after latest announcement

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BofA revises Harley-Davidson stock price after latest announcement

Harley-Davidson’s new CEO wants to transform how people think about the iconic motorcycle brand, so the company is trying something different.

This week, Harley announced a new strategy that focuses on lower-priced bikes, rather than relying on older, more affluent customers to buy its higher-margin touring models.

“Back to the Bricks builds on our core strengths and competitive advantages, harnessing the passion of our riders to deliver profitable growth for the Company and both our dealers and shareholders,” Harley CEO Artie Starrs said this week. “As we drive towards this new phase of growth, we remain committed to the craftsmanship and dedication that define our brand.”

Entry-level Harley-Davidsons cost about $13,000, while the higher-end Adventure Touring models average about $23,250, and the Premium Range &CVO models cost about $38,500, according to Reuters.

Harley’s new strategy targets a core profit of over $350 million from its motorcycle business by 2027 and over $150 million in cost reductions.

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To kick off the new strategy, Harley is introducing Sprint, a new entry-level model powered by a smaller 440cc engine, later in the year.

Harley-Davidson is going after a younger demographic with its new strategy. Photo by Raivo Sarelainens on Getty Images

What is Harley-Davidson’s “Back to the Bricks” strategy?

Harley’s new strategy relies on more than just pushing buyers toward cheaper vehicles to increase volume. The 123-year-old company has a set of five pillars on which it is building its future.

Harley-Davidson “Back to the Bricks” 5-point plan

  • Deep appreciation of Harley-Davidson’s competitive advantages and legacy: The Company’s iconic brand, diversified and powerful revenue channels, and best-in-class dealer network provide a powerful foundation for growth.

  • Renewed commitment to exclusive dealer network to drive enterprise profitability: Harley-Davidson’s dealers are a competitive advantage. The Company is planning actions to enable dealers to double profitability in 2026 and then double it again by 2029.

  • Immediate actions to recapture share in areas where Harley-Davidson has right to win: Harley-Davidson has strong legacy equity in existing markets including new motorcycles, used motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, and Apparel & Licensing. The Company’s new strategy is focused on positioning the Company to regain share and drive meaningful volume growth in categories where it benefits from credibility, scale, and deep rider connection.

  • Strong financial position with a path to stronger free cash flow and EBITDA margin: Cost and restructuring actions already underway support a path to stronger free cash flow and EBITDA margin over time.

  • Bolstered management team with balance of fresh perspectives and institutional knowledge: Harley-Davidson has made a number of leadership appointments that support the Company as it leverages its innate strengths.

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What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill

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What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill
Source: Getty Images

Written by Jitendra Parashar at The Motley Fool Canada

Dividend investing can be one of the simplest ways to build long-term wealth while creating a steady stream of passive income. But in my opinion, a good dividend stock is about much more than just a high yield. Beyond dividend yield, investors should also look for companies with durable businesses, reliable cash flows, and a history of rewarding shareholders consistently over time.

That’s exactly why many investors turn to financial stocks. Banks and asset managers often generate recurring earnings through lending, investing, and wealth management activities, allowing them to support stable dividend payments even during uncertain market conditions.

Two Canadian financial stocks that stand out right now are AGF Management (TSX:AGF.B) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD). Both companies offer attractive dividends backed by solid financial performance and long-term growth strategies. In this article, I’ll explain why these two financial stocks could be worth considering for income-focused investors right now.

AGF Management stock continues to reward shareholders

AGF Management is a Toronto-based asset manager with businesses across investments, private markets, and wealth management. Through these divisions, the company offers equity, fixed income, alternative, and multi-asset investment strategies to retail, institutional, and private wealth clients.

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Following a 59% rally over the last 12 months, AGF stock currently trades at $16.67 per share with a market cap of roughly $1.1 billion. At current levels, the stock offers a quarterly dividend yield of 3.3%.

One reason behind AGF’s strong recent performance is its increasingly diversified business model. The company has expanded its investment capabilities and broadened its geographic reach, helping it perform well across varying market environments.

In the first quarter of its fiscal 2026 (ended in February), AGF posted free cash flow of $36 million, up 14% year over year (YoY), driven mainly by higher management, advisory, and administration fees. These fees climbed to $92.5 million as demand for the company’s investment offerings strengthened.

AGF has also been focusing on expanding its alternative investment business and introducing new investment products. With strong cash generation and growing demand for alternative investments, AGF Management looks well-positioned to continue rewarding investors over the long term.

TD Bank stock remains a dependable dividend giant

Toronto-Dominion Bank, or TD Bank, is one of North America’s largest banks, serving millions of customers through its Canadian banking, U.S. retail banking, wealth management and insurance, and wholesale banking operations.

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Following a 70% jump over the last year, TD stock currently trades at $148.14 per share and carries a massive market cap of $247 billion. It’s also continuing to provide investors with a quarterly dividend yield of 3%.

TD’s latest results show why it remains a dependable dividend stock. In the February 2026 quarter, the bank’s reported net income jumped 45% YoY to $4 billion, while adjusted earnings rose 16% to a record $4.2 billion.

Similarly, the bank’s Canadian personal and commercial banking segment delivered record revenue and earnings with the help of higher loan and deposit volumes. Meanwhile, its wealth management and insurance business also posted record earnings, while wholesale banking benefited from strong trading and fee income growth.

Notably, TD ended the quarter with a strong Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 14.5%, giving it a solid capital cushion. While the bank continues to spend on U.S. anti-money-laundering remediation and control improvements, its strong earnings base, large customer network, and diversified operations continue to support its dividends.

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The post What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has positions in Toronto-Dominion Bank. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Finance

UK watchdog says car finance legal challenge hearing unlikely before October

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UK watchdog says car finance legal challenge hearing unlikely before October
Britain’s financial watchdog said on Friday a tribunal hearing on ‌legal challenges to its compensation scheme for mis-sold car loans was unlikely before October, and told lenders to prepare for a possibility that the scheme could be scrapped entirely.
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