skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 2 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

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

Q: Hi 5i, I do know you guys are focusing on Canadian Equity. However, I would like to get your opinions on short-vol ETFs like XIV and SVXY since this topic is so popular right now. We all know after today's trade, these products lost most of their values due to the spike of volatility. But in the past 2 year, short-vol has been a money-printing trade that is crazily profitable. I think since the market fundamentals did not change and the volatility will go low eventually, these products are insanely cheap now and looks like they will go up like before? One thing I am worrying is that Credit Suisse announce to liquidate their XIV soon. Will you say this will happen to similar products like SVXY or HVI.TO? Will you recommend to but this "super dip" now? Sorry this question is long, but I bet a lot of people are looking forward to hear your thoughts about this issue right now.
Read Answer Asked by Tao on February 08, 2018
Q: I am needing to increase the fixed income portion of my asset allocation after a good run by equities, which I thank you for. For fixed income I am using a mixture of GICs and the PHN Total Return Bond Fund (RBF1340) because it has a low MER. Would it be imprudent to add to a bond fund at this time of rising interest rates and is there a better one I should consider.
Read Answer Asked by jane on February 08, 2018
Q: You commented last week to Patrick about TBT.
I think that recent negative returns were related to the latter stage of the long bond bull market. This has been reversed quite impressively since january. Bill Gross was probably right from hindsight in his call for a new bear bond market.
So, as a growth investor, the idea of increasing returns on an otherwise meagre income from the fixed income part of my portfolio is quite appealing, and does not come out of worry on the market, but from seing an opportunity, and using it with reason.
Then, if I want to benefit going forward, like the next 6 months, of the general bearish trend on bonds that I believe fundamentally justified based on trade, currency and other issues, would TBF be a better bet for one holding that view?
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Daniel on February 07, 2018
Q: Just doing some more work on ZWE...confused on some beta #s. Globefund has the beta = 2.07. Fundata has a 3 year beta of 0.53. 5iR has it at 0.91. Can you please provide some insight...is it simply different timeframes? I am trying to derisk my portfolio (reduce beta), while at the same time increase dividend income...adding to ZWE seems logical, but the beta numbers are confusing. Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on February 06, 2018
Q: Good Evening
Today's decline in the TSX and Dow was due primarily due to the increase in interest rates.
Can you please comment as to why several rate reset preferred shares like slf.pr.i and bam.pr.z declined as well? CPD also declined by .7%. It is widely believed that the increase in interest rates will favour the rate reset preferred shares.
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Terry on February 06, 2018
Q: Last week , with the prospect of a correction and growing speculation (esp. in pot and crypto), I sold many equities to lock in profits (retaining a few gold names) and bought some HVU (double volatility index) as a bit of insurance. It paid off handsomely, with a 68% spike yesterday alone. Looking at the long term chart of HVU, volume is unprecedented and it looks like the period of reverse volatility ran long and deep. I know none of us can predict the future, but does it make sense to hang on to HVU as insurance for awhile in the face of what could be a stormy period in the global markets (even without a geo-political catalyst!).
Read Answer Asked by David on February 06, 2018
Q: For someone in their early twenties and has 30K in a TFSA, what would be an appropriate amount of stocks to hold, and what would be some of your top suggestions?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Daniel on February 05, 2018