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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 there is a huge disparity between the number of buy/sell bids , or sell/buy bids what is the market indicating ?
Thank you , Donna
Read Answer Asked by Donna on October 06, 2020
Q: Hi

Based on the current events show going on in the US.
I am thinking of selling all my US holdings and buying them back when the dust settles.
Capture the gains and buy them back at a steep discount.
Your comments Please

Thanks
Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on October 06, 2020
Q: PNG recently did a $10M "bought deal" financing at $.67. If it is a "bought deal" does that mean Canaccord are in essence buying $10M worth of newly issued shares at $.67 and they are getting a big discount (prior market was $.78-.80)? Will Canaccord be re-selling these shares to clients at a premium to themselves or just adding them to their own portfolios? Also, if Cannacord have already bought the shares why is the market reacting so negatively? Is it because of the dilution? Last but not least why such a big discount for Canaccord?
Read Answer Asked by Morgan on October 05, 2020
Q: I have heard a lot about wealthsimple.what is your thought about using this platform.If you can trade for free,how do they make their $?
Read Answer Asked by Josh on October 02, 2020
Q: Looking at the chart for PHO I note the gap up in early May. I often hear comments about stock prices moving to, "fill the gap" over time and I have never really found a satisfactory answer as to why this is thought to occur. What would your thoughts be on this gap thing?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Robert on October 02, 2020
Q: Thanks for the recent update, I look forward to your monthly emails.

With respect to point two about locking in some profits, I've often wondered how this works for institutions. Would they actually sell their portfolio and go to cash for the remainder of the year? Do most mutual funds not have to be mostly in the market thus having only a small cash position? I suppose you're referencing other major institutions like pension funds, hedge funds, etc.? Are they more flexible in how much cash they can hold?

Personally I'm tempted to sell to lock in my 2020 gains which have been my best ever (lots of great 5i picks, thanks) but then the question of when to get back in always confounds me. I'm all registered accounts to so no loss to write off and no gains to worry about at tax season.

Say one did want to lock in some gains what would you suggest? Selling high fliers, only to potentially miss some more gains? Sell the lagards? Sell the high risk? Balanced?

Cam
Read Answer Asked by Cameron on October 01, 2020
Q: Dear 5i,
I have a number of questions regarding shorting securities I hope you can answer;
1. Where does one find out how much it costs to short a security?
2. Who gets the borrow fee for the security?
3. If brokers keep the money can it be a significant amount and why is it not shared with the security owner to be fair?

thanks
Read Answer Asked by Ian on September 30, 2020
Q: I wasn't able to listen to Peter's Money Show talk. Any chance you have a link to watch it?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on September 30, 2020
Q: Just want to let your readers know that Peter's presentation for the MoneyShow is now available on the youtube MoneyShow page. Just search for MoneyShow and you can find it. Thanks for packing in all that information in to 30 minutes.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on September 30, 2020
Q: Could you please offer some guidelines on how to execute an averaging up strategy, ie when to initiate, pyramidal buying ratios, stop losses, etc.
Thanks in advance!
Read Answer Asked by Peter on September 29, 2020
Q: Hi Folks
I read in Bloomberg "investors are pricing in expectations of higher volatility around the elections ... In the stock market, investors have been purchasing volatility protection extending beyond November."
Can you please guide me what that volatility protection purchasing would actually be ? Is volatility protection only for investors who don't want to stomach the turbulence, or is there a broader interest in it? Many thanks for sharing your market wisdom.
Read Answer Asked by TOM on September 24, 2020
Q: hi, according to the bnn website the tsx forward (I presume) PE is at 24.78, which as far as I can research is astronomical for a "recovery" period. can you shed some light on the tax historical forward PE, and provide some data/statistics on how well the tsx does over the next 6-12 months with a PE of 24.5 or above? I assume you have access to this data?? cheers, chris
Read Answer Asked by chris on September 23, 2020
Q: Hi Folks,
My question is about the concept of a 5 year "stepper" product described by one leading financial institution as having a one-year term and automatically renews for four successive one-year terms on the maturity/anniversary date. The annual interest rate automatically increases on each maturity/anniversary date. The investment may be cashed in full or in part on the maturity/anniversary date.
Rates are year 1 - 0.85%
Year 2 - 1.10%
Year 3 - 1.75%
Year 4 - 2.00%
Year 5 - 3.55%
Effective Annual Yield - 1.846%

For someone who has a portion of their portfolio in GICs, does this type of product make sense? What are the pros and cons please and thank you. Michal
Read Answer Asked by Michael on September 23, 2020
Q: Hi Peter, I read your Saturday column in the FP very religiously. This Saturday you suggested that a Portfolio with 90% Govt. T-Bills and 10% Call Options can provide significant Upside & just as much Downside Protection. I don't know much, if anything about T-Bills & Options. Would you kindly explain? Also, where can I learn more about them online?
Thanks so much
Read Answer Asked by Austin on September 22, 2020
Q: From my previous question, Re: Cramer discussing IPOs last week: it seemed he was suggesting that many tech / growth stocks would be driven down as buyers funded their new ipo positions with previous winners and that this would be a good time to buy growth stocks from this price action.

Your thoughts please.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Mark on September 21, 2020
Q: Dear 5i,

Re Peter's article in the Financial Post article Sept. 17;
A comment was made about how an individual investor might
make a simple structured investment product using T-bills and call options. This interests me and I would like to learn more about how to do this and the risk and return behind this strategy. Can you please suggest some good reading material.

thanks
Ian
Read Answer Asked by Ian on September 21, 2020
Q: Am I able to buy shares in Samsung, and if so how would I do so ?....please and thank you...Cheers
Read Answer Asked by Cam on September 21, 2020
Q: Hello 5i,
I have the above ETF's in my TFSA as I believed the distribution is interest. I read in reports that distribution is dividend or "dividend interest") All quite confusing. In the TFSA's are also a GIC 5 year ladder, growth stocks (LSPD, LNF) and some high dividend paying equities. Should I journal the above ETF's to a non-registered account and refill the TFSA come January with more growth and GIC's or leave everything alone? I am 73 with a defined pension and 60/40 fixed / equity
Stanley
Read Answer Asked by STANLEY on September 21, 2020
Q: Hello 5i Team
Is there a readily available website listing the subordinated voting shares on the TSX?
With the recent takeover offer for Cogeco / Cogeco Communications, a spotlight has been shown on multiple voting / non-voting shares?
What is 5i opinion on whether multiple voting / non-voting shares are beneficial for the small retail investor?
This might be a suggestion for a blog entry similar to Canadian companies paying US dollar dividends.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on September 17, 2020