Investment Q&A

Q: Does the lower price of oil increase the risk of default in some of the holdings in this ETF? Thanks, Joe

Q: Looking at fixed income and interested in CBO. Some credit unions, however, are offering a five year GIC for 3.01 per cent. I have always heard that with bonds or gic's you will always get your money back. But, with etf's, it can be a little riskier, as you don't own the bonds directly. Essentially, i am afraid of getting bitten by a bond etf and am thinking about this relatively high paying gic as a solution. Is this a good strategy and do i really need to worry about bond etf's
Thanks claire

Q: Both ETFs have taken off significantly after Nov. 24, the opening of the Shanghai Exchange. Which of the two might have further upside potential, and are they relatively 'safe' as investments?

Q: Do you see any appreciable difference between the 1-5 yr corporate bond ladder etfs issued by i-Shares (CBO) and by RBC (RBO)? Of the two, RBO seems to be closer to a truer ladder as CBO has 36% of its bonds with >5yr lifetimes. On the other hand, CBO is far more liquid and its credit quality seems higher (RBO has 22% BBB whereas CBO has 0%). On the plus side, RBO showed less price decline in the past year compared to CBO. I would appreciate your comment.

Q: Hi 5i team,
I have a core position in ZWB for extra yield exposure to the banks which has performed very well this past year. I have more cash to deploy for yield / "lower" risk and was thinking of starting a new position in either ZEB, adding more to my ZWB holdings or ideally, . starting a new covered ETF that tracks US banks if there is one you are aware of. I look forward to and appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks in advance. Your perspectivce is always helpful / insightful.

Q: Can you please speak to CDZ's interest rate sensitivity given it is a cdn. dividend-grower ETF. So, if we do see gradual interest rate increases in 2015/16 and beyond, what are some possible outcomes/scenarios for CDZ in your opinion. Thanks.

Q: Peter and Team,

Just a follow up on the question asked by another member just a bit earlier. You suggested CBO as a good ETF for corporate bonds.

Here are my questions:
1. If you buy a bond ETF, does the ETF price go down if interest rates go up or is it unaffected because the ETF manager will hold the bonds to maturity any way and get paid par?
2. Will this offer protection against rising rates (and maybe inflation?) due to the 1-year out maturities getting rolled into new 5-year maturities ever year?
3. Is this a better choice than owning a few bond positions outright along with a stock portfolio (assume diversification)?

Just as a comment, in my ideal world, I want to buy bonds that pay me back my money at maturity and give me yield along the way. I want to preserve capital with these choices and am not trying to hit a "home run."

Thanks!

Q: For European and Japanese equity market exposure at this time, do you recommend using Canadian $ hedged ETF's or unhedged versions? What specific ETF's would you recommend for these two markets?

Thank you.

Q: My portfolio is completely dividend paying companies, mostly former income trusts. You have recommended bond ETF's for diversification in the past. Could you give me a few names? I have always had the impression that bonds have very low yields.

Q: I am interested in buying either ZEO or XEG and I have no oil and GAS stock in my portfolio. which one would you recommend and is 10% would be ok. Is there any ETF that has only pipeline.

Q: Hi Peter and 5iResearch Group,
As you have noted that interest rates will likely remain low for sometime, would you recommend using ETFs for medium and/or long-term bond portfolio positions vs. purchasing individual bonds. Also, should both US and Cdn. bonds in each/either category be purchased? Thank you. Linda

Q: re: Linda's question on DBC and the Dalio formula. Linda may want to look at USCI; in my estimation its a superior ETF/ETN.
Paul

Q: I have a TFSA and have 5k invested equally into the 5 etf xid cif chi cdz cud. I can purchase these commission free. My plan is to purchase equal amounts of these once a month. Could I please get your comments on this strategy.

Q: Hi Peter and 5iResearch Team,
In his new financial book, Anthony Robbins interviewed Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager, Ray Dalio, who recommends that 7.5% of a portfolio should be invested in diversified commodities. Can you recommend a good quality ETF that provides a diversified portfolio of commodities for a LT hold? Thank you. Linda

Q: I am looking to rebalance or add some growth to my US/foreign portion of my portfolio which is some 28% of total.
Currently have
AAPl 5.4%
Abev 1.2%
CSCO 1.5%
CX 1.8%
GE 1.7%
GILD 4.6%
NE 1.7%
PFE 2%
PG 4.1%
VIG 3.5%
Vale 1.1%
Have 3 major Cdn banks would you add C, US industrial or other stock from gains in AAPL or GILD or new funds. Thank you

Q: Hi,

I was listening to an expert on BNN say that our railroads growth are " in their final innings"? Do you believe that and why?

Also, are their any us railways you recommend or an ETF?

Q: Good morning,

My portfolio is pretty well diversified and do not keep more than 5% in each of my holdings. I have money right now that I would like to invest.
One of the sector that I do not have any investment is in the health area. Would have a company or an etf to recommend?

Thanks

Paul

Q: Hello Peter and Staff;
Is there any downside to purchasing an ETF in December, in terms of distribution of units. I know in the past when I have held mutual funds, I have taken a hit early in the new year which pertained to a fund timing purchase in the last couple of months of the previous year. ?any similarity in operation of etfs and mutual funds in this regard?. Thank you very much

Q: Regarding US$ portion of a well balanced portfolio containing 5i equity portfolio and A/B stocks, canadian large companies, a small bond ladder, no other international exposure w/ 15-20 year time line. Any US thoughts or advice?
4.9% Apple -AAPL
10.1% EAFE ETF -EFA
7.5% Russell 2000 -IWO
14.4% BIOTECH -IBB
39.5% S&P 500 -SPY
6.9% Consumer Discretionary - XLY
5.4% Tal International -TAL
6.8% Vanguard Dividend -VIG
4.5% Yum Brands -YUM

Q: Good morning Peter and Team, The recent Q and A about ZWH has me thinking about my own strategy. I own a position in CLU.C, and its chart shows a 21% gain for the last 12 months compared to 14.91% gain for ZWH, even though CLU.C has a smaller dividend. What do you think of CLU.C? Thanks!