Jul 21, 2017
5 from 5i: How Economists See Market Drivers
It was a big week for US bank earnings, and markets showed concerns over President Donald Trump’s ability to push through his pro-growth policies, following a setback to the healthcare bill. Bank of America (BAC), the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, beat quarterly earnings expectations but experienced a slowdown in trading revenue and trimmed its expectations for growth in net interest income. Goldman Sachs (GS) dipped after also beating earnings expectations but posted a 40% drop in bond trading revenue. Telecom company Rogers Communications (RCI.B) reported a greater-than-expected 35% jump in second-quarter profit, as a gain in wireless subscribers offset declines in its cable TV business. Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, as it earned more from higher shipments of commodities, but executives were cautious on grains for the second half of the year. Here are stories we found interesting this week:
- An overview of factors driving market 'bubbles'
- ETF Managers made active decisions for passive investors, years ago
- Three 'simple' lessons learned over the last 10 years
- If portfolio management is no longer the source of a financial advisor’s value, what is?
- The 'Top 10' S&P 500 company contributions over the last 35 years
Jul 17, 2017
Why It’s Almost Impossible to be a Passive Investor in Canada
What if I told you that as of June 28, 2017, essentially half way through the calendar year, only one sector out of ten (including REITs with Financials) was negative?
What if I told you that out of those ten sectors, six of them had returned over 5% in the year-to-date period and three of those had returned in excess of 10% over the year-to-date period?
With the TSX flat to slightly negative over the same period, you would likely call shenanigans, but it’s true.
Only one sector is negative for the TSX in 2017 and due to its heavy weighting, it has been the main contributor to the lack of any returns on the TSX so far this year.
Jul 14, 2017
5 from 5i: 30 Pearls of Wisdom
The big news this week was of course that the Bank of Canada raised interest rates for the first time in seven years. The bank raised its overnight lending rate to 0.75% from 0.5% Wednesday. Couche-Tard (ATD.B) capped its fiscal year with a strong fourth quarter as its Canadian operations got a boost from the full impact of its acquisition of Esso convenience stores. Home Capital Group (HCG) has chosen Yousry Bissada, a 57-year-old executive who is well known in the mortgage industry, as its CEO. Manulife Financial (MFC) shares spiked in afternoon trading yesterday after The Wall Street Journal reported the lifeco is exploring an initial public offering or spinoff of its John Hancock unit. Aphria (APH) reported Q4 and full year 2017 financial results that beat analyst expectations. Here's five stories we found interesting this week:
- Guiding principles every investor should, at best, understand
- What's wrong with active management and how it could stay alive
- Winning investments require enduring more discomfort/uncertainty than others
- Answer these questions to see if you can 'wait out the storm'
- Emerging markets continue to see tailwinds
Jul 13, 2017
Interest Rate Takeaways from Central Banks
There has been a lot of focus on the Bank of Canada and the FED recently with talk of where interest rates are going. Here are a few things we think are worth noting.
Jul 07, 2017
5 from 5i: Catching-up with the FinTech Thesis
Here are five investment and finance stories we found interesting this week
Jul 05, 2017
Why The Canadian Banks Make Great Dividend Stocks
This is a guest contribution by Nick McCullum from Sure Dividend
The Canadian banks hold a special part in the portfolios of many investors, both in Canada and the U.S.
By and large, these stocks are known for giving outsized total returns along with exceptionally high dividend yields. This is quite rare – there are not many pockets of the stock market where entire groups of stocks are considered to be quality investments.
Why is this?
Jun 30, 2017
Worried about FAANG/Tech driving your results?
Here are five investment and finance stories we found interesting this week
Jun 16, 2017
5 from 5i: Geopolitical risks keeping you out of markets?
Here are five investment and finance stories we found interesting this week