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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: When I try to trade securities listed in Exchanges in Japan, UK, other Europe, bank-owned brokers (RBC-DI and iTRADE) have a hard time giving me a quote. Even if when I get a quote, the have trouble handling my trade. And if they do, the trades incur very high commissions. I understand there are brokers in Canada who do handle international trades, but I do not know who they are.

I am therefore looking for a Japan small-cap ETF of companies that:
- are small or mid-cap (i.e. prefer to avoid the large Japan cartel type orgs); and
- whose sales have a significant export component; and
- which holding a modest number of securities, say 50 or 75 although I suspect I would have to be flexible as to number of holdings given that I am seeking small-caps
- trades in the US or Canada
I skipped currency hedge as requirements (although that would be great)

I have checked online resources but didn’t see ETFs of Japan-based exporters.
I would be thankful if you are able to tell of any ETFs you are able to find.

Read Answer Asked by Adam on November 15, 2017
Q: Hi,

I'm a medium risk investor who needs more world exposure.

1) Can you recommend two CDN and two US ETfs focusing on Europe for the next few years.
2)1) Can you recommend two CDN and two US ETfs focusing on Asia?China for the next few years.
3) If you had to bet on whether Europe or Asia has the advantage in growth and stability for the next few years, which would it be?
Read Answer Asked by Graeme on November 13, 2017
Q: Tuesday's Globe had an interesting article about wind power in the North Sea being developed by a company called "Orsted" (formerly Dong Energy) listed on the Danish stock exchange. Wind power seems to be gaining traction and gaining efficiencies. My questions...
1) What do you think about Orsted, any red flags?
2) Is growth projected at Orsted or is it more of a low growth dividend type of stock?
3) How would one go about buying shares in Orsted?
4) Is BEP.UN comparable to Orsted or are they too dissimilar?
Thanks
Jim
Read Answer Asked by James on November 09, 2017
Q: I am invested primarily in Canada and the USA.
I am thinking of an ETF for geographical diversity.
What are your preferred locations and related ETFs.
Like the new data. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Doug on November 09, 2017
Q: Hi team,
Looking to invest in the Japanese stock market through an ETF with good growth prospects but they all seem to be at their 52 weeks high. Is the timing good ? And what do you think of Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF (dbjp-n), WisdomTree Japan Hedged SmallCap Equity Fund (dxjs-n) or any better idea ?

Thanks a million for your help and outstanding new site,

Jacques

Read Answer Asked by Jacques on November 08, 2017
Q: Hi 5i,
I would like to have international exposure with a time horizon of 5 years. Would you use an indexed- CAD hedged ETF? or not?
Would you please give me your opinion on VEF, VI and VVO ?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Lizette on November 01, 2017
Q: Hi 5iR, I have been thinking about starting my own small ETF with Asian e-commerce companies such as Netease (NTES), Baidu (BIDU), Alibaba (BABA), Yirendi (YRD), Baozun (BZUN), China Mobile (CHL), and Softbank Group (SFTBY). Is there an ETF already out there that would accomplish this for me?

Thanks team. Chris

Thanks Team
Read Answer Asked by Chris on November 01, 2017
Q: Just a comment on the answer you gave to the question posed by Kolbi on Llloyds bank. Unless the rules have changed very recently I believe the UK has no witholding tax on dividends paid to foreign residents. UK residents have a $10K dividend tax free allowance (reducing to $4K next year) after which they are taxed 7.5%. Don't feel to sorry for them though, their TFSA is $40K a year!
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on October 31, 2017