The new trading week began on Monday, October 31^stwith nervous investors clearly expecting more tricks than treats as the calendar moved ever closer to the upcoming American presidential election.

Technical analysts David Tippin & Ron Meisels commented – “The bull market is successfully absorbing selling pressure. While political turmoil seems to be on the increase, the markets are quietly going about their business of preparing themselves for a new upleg.”

Performance Sports Group (PSG-T), the manufacturer of Bauer, Easton and Mission sports equipment through in the towel and filed for bankruptcy protection.

Perhaps sensing a bottom in the petroleum markets, General Electric (GE-N) announced they were acquiring a majority interest in oilfield services company Baker-Hughes (BHI-N) to form the world’s second largest oilfield services company.

Lumber Liquidators (LL-N) shares’ fell by over 16^% to US$15.50 after the flooring company failed to impress the street with its 3rd-quarter financials.

The Canadian government started the new month by announcing on Tuesday, November, 1^st that they will spend $180-billion over the nest 11-years on infrastructure spending.

J.D. Power reported that all of the ‘big-three’ American automakers all reported a drop in October sales.

Cymat Technologies (CYM-V) shares’ soared up by over 77^% to $0.31 after the specialized aluminum company announced a memorandum of understanding with industry giant Aluciol SA to co-market the company’s aluminum foam composite panels.

Wednesday, November 2^nd had the Conference Board of Canada report that our consumer confidence fell by 6.3-points in October to 96.7, the largest monthly drop since crude oil first fell below US$30-a-barrel.

The U.S. Fed does as expected and leaves their key interest rates unchanged at 0.25 – 0.5^% going into the last week of their federal election.

Aecon Group (ARE-T) shares’ plunged by almost 16^% to $14.38 after the contract engineering firm disappointed with its 3rd-quarter financials.

Conversely, the price of Office Depot (ODP-N) rose by 12.5^% to US$3.43 after the retailer said it would sell its international business interests and focus on North America.

Ottawa announced on Thursday, November 3^rd that they were relaxing the upper allowed limit of foreign ownership for Canadian air carriers from the current 25^% to a much more competitive 49^%.

exactEarth Ltd. (XCT-T) shares’ rose by 12^% to $1.57 after the company arranged a long term satellite contract with the Canadian Department of National Defence.

Meanwhile market darling Facebook (FB-N) had its share price fall by almost 6^% to US$119.75 after the social network company warned that its revenue growth may slow in 2017.

And the price of Fitbit Inc. (FIT-N) shares’ plunged by 33.5^% to US$8.51 after the fitness monitoring company posted weaker than expected guidance for the 4^th-quarter.

Friday, November 4^th saw Statistics Canada report that our economy created a better than expected 43,900 new jobs in October which held the unemployment rate steady at 7.0^%. To the south, the U.S. Department of Labor reported the American economy created 161,000 new jobs in October which helped to lower their unemployment rate down by 0.1% to 4.9^%.

Statistics Canada also reported that the Canadian trade deficit more than doubled in September to $4.1-billion.

Going into the last few days before the U.S. Presidential election – A Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey found that on average fund managers have raised the cash portions of their portfolios to a 15-year high of 5.8^%.

Flour Corp. (FLR-N) shares’ fell by 13.5^% to US$44.80 after America’s largest engineering and construction company lowered its 2016 profit forecast.

During the Week – the TSX Venture Exchange fell to a 3^1/2-month low of 760, while the Dow Industrials, S&P 500 and NASDAQ all fell to respective 4-month lows of 17,888, 2,085 and 5,046. Meanwhile the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rose to a 4-month high of 22.72.

First Quantum Minerals (FM-T) at $12.81, Parkland Fuel (PKI-T) at $31.77 and TD Bank  (TD-T) at $61.03 all set new TSX 52-week trading highs while Alaris Royalty (AD-T) at $19.52, Fission Uranium (FCU-T) at $0.50 and Sears Canada (SCC-T) at $2.53 all fell to new 52-week trading lows.

For the Week – the Dow Industrials fell by 1.50^% to 17,888, with the S&P 500 Index down by 1.93^% to 2,085 and the NASDAQ Exchange off by 2.77^% to 5,046. To the north side of 49 the TSX Composite Index fell by 1.87^% to 14,509 and the TSX Venture Exchange dropped by 1.80^% to 762.

With Commodities – gold bullion gained 2.23^% to US$1,306, with copper up by 3.19^% to US$2.26, while crude oil fell by 9.28^% to US$44.18 and natural gas dropped by 9.51^% to US$2.95. Overall, the CRB Spot Commodity Index rose by 0.49^% to end the week at 405.

The Canadian dollar improved by a marginal 0.03^% against its American counterpart to finish the week at US$0.7465.

And the closely watched CBOE Volatility Index or VIX rose by 6.59-points to end the week at a much more nervous level of 22.72.

And Finally – As we move ever closer the prime year-end shopping season, a new report by Colliers International suggests that Canadian non-store sales rose in 2014 to $23-billion or 4.7^% of the total Canadian retail space.