Q: Breaking news - BMO is now offering five-year fixed mortgages at 2.99 per cent, slashing its rate from 3.49 per cent.
Exit comment/question - "Say what?!"
Exit comment/question - "Say what?!"
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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: Hello Peter...Well, I'm better diversified by sector, now. And I'm focusing on another aspect of diversification of TSX stocks....market cap. This dividend/growth portfolio is made up of 46 companies with 25 large cap, 11 mid cap and 10 small cap. By small cap, I use an upper limit of $1.5 billion, and then mid cap, $5.0 billion....and all the company names are ones reviewed or frequently commented on/answered about. Now the question - does this diversification my market cap seem reason? Or put another way, for a right-on allocation by sector, does this market cap holds okay ? (The main reasons the number of holds is 46 are a result of purchasing matching/similar like securities, Goldcorp and then the smaller cap Primero, and in case of info tech, holding some half positions in 4 companies.)..........Continuing towards 5iR-ing it.
Thanks....Tom M
Thanks....Tom M
Q: Hello Peter
I have a policy that no individual security should exceed 5% of the value of my total portfolio. Normally when a stock reaches 5.5% I trim it back to 5% and invest the proceeds in the fixed income portion of my portfolio to maintain a 30% fixed income, 70% equity allocation. Over the past couple of years I have needed to trim shares of TD, RY, BNS, BCE, T, TRP and CU as they have all exceeded the 5% threshold. These stocks are held in an open account, so capital gain taxes must be paid on the dispositions. I know that the value of my portfolio would currently be higher if I did not follow this policy. Is this policy flawed? Should I just let the winners run?
Thanks David
I have a policy that no individual security should exceed 5% of the value of my total portfolio. Normally when a stock reaches 5.5% I trim it back to 5% and invest the proceeds in the fixed income portion of my portfolio to maintain a 30% fixed income, 70% equity allocation. Over the past couple of years I have needed to trim shares of TD, RY, BNS, BCE, T, TRP and CU as they have all exceeded the 5% threshold. These stocks are held in an open account, so capital gain taxes must be paid on the dispositions. I know that the value of my portfolio would currently be higher if I did not follow this policy. Is this policy flawed? Should I just let the winners run?
Thanks David
Q: Your model portfolio in small print, for example, auto Canada p&l for 2014 -4.1. I was surprised to see that it was in a minus category since it was the best stock in the TSX. Is there a difference between a March 1st list February PDF and a March 1st 2014 Excel with no list? It has nice big print, and is easier to read. Maybe I am missing something. Please advise.
Q: Hello Peter...I'm interested in learning/improving about entering and exiting holds of stocks. And came across books by Alexander Elder....showing up on Amazon and at the local library. At first glance, the basics are easy to understand, and provide good building blocks. For me, I'll need to show more patience.
Thought I'd mention this resource reference for others.....Tom
Thought I'd mention this resource reference for others.....Tom
Q: Dear Peter and fellow 5I team members, I, for one, appreciate your gentle and courteous responses to members who in the opinion of some ask too simple questions too often. We are the very people who need your conflict free investor oriented advice; I would be unhappy if you felt the need to separate out the beginners you are currently educating to a "forum" with its own agenda.
Thank you, again for your unique and valuable service.
Thank you, again for your unique and valuable service.
Q: Hi Peter and team,
I have been doing quite well in the markets for the last two years or so, thanks in large part to your outstanding service. I have been an active member from the beginning.
My question is, as of today, if there was one or two sectors you would take profits in, which ones would they be?
Thanks
Stephen
I have been doing quite well in the markets for the last two years or so, thanks in large part to your outstanding service. I have been an active member from the beginning.
My question is, as of today, if there was one or two sectors you would take profits in, which ones would they be?
Thanks
Stephen
Q: A response to Evan on a forum for discussion.
I have monitored a discussion board for 11 years. I know most have this problem
"head and shoulders above the type of audience that plague other investing sites. "
It is a time consuming exercise to monitor discussion and you must be prepared to eliminate any possible problem. I have the power to delete posts and/or ban posters. I also may be freer to eliminate problem posts/posters than the 5i team might be. I believe my forum is known for no conflict and especially no politics. I do not have any expertise that the 5i team could offer.
5i--I separate this in case you want not to publish this link--I am neutral on it.
I am at http://www.investorvillage.com/groups.asp?mb=6781&pt=m
Bryon in Elmira
I have monitored a discussion board for 11 years. I know most have this problem
"head and shoulders above the type of audience that plague other investing sites. "
It is a time consuming exercise to monitor discussion and you must be prepared to eliminate any possible problem. I have the power to delete posts and/or ban posters. I also may be freer to eliminate problem posts/posters than the 5i team might be. I believe my forum is known for no conflict and especially no politics. I do not have any expertise that the 5i team could offer.
5i--I separate this in case you want not to publish this link--I am neutral on it.
I am at http://www.investorvillage.com/groups.asp?mb=6781&pt=m
Bryon in Elmira
Q: hi peter, i currently have my pension in stocks that are split between US and International companies the last year; after the good run they had last year, as the TSX was lagging, but still gaining, i am wondering if know is a good time to re-invest in the TSX and switch to totally TSX equities. Basically i am trying to decide which market has the better potential for large cap stock gains over the next 12 to 18 months?
thanks hugh
thanks hugh
Q: Have you ever considered creating a 5I membership forum for members to discuss/debate stock holdings? There are some savvy subscribers here no doubt where it would be beneficial to hear some continued feedback on stocks bouncing ideas/thoughts etc; back n’ forth per your question/answer section, call it an added 5I advantage within your growing readership. Less experienced investors could sit back and observe taking notes/pointers – a learning forum if you may. Of course, having it closely monitored by Mr. Hodson and the 5I team to answer/clarify pertinent queries on stocks would be the main root of creating such a forum. There seems to be a short term outlook by some members on here as is evident by the barrage of questions on stocks on a weekly sometimes daily basis, there seems to be many repetitive questions on the favorite core of stocks with a short term focus which isn’t what 5i sets forth. I’m sure a forum like this might break away some of 5I’s time to give us more updated reports and perhaps blast out by mass email when a company reports on a quarterly basis/earnings etc; that you know will bombard with questions (why not hit many members with one mass email?). I’m sure there wouldn’t be a whole lot of policing to enforce on a forum with certain privileges revoked if the forum got out of hand as this seems like head and shoulders above the type of audience that plague other investing sites. I can’t be the only one to pose this question, your thoughts along this avenue would be appreciated. Thank you.
Q: My daily routine 7days a week.is to read your site,which improve my knowledge.Appreciate your explanation on the voliatility & volume on certain stocks due to index revision.It is very discenting to novice investors like me to see stock like CGX dropped some $1 on 250k volume @ the close. Please provide your expert opinion of the impact to additions(KEL & IFP.A were added) & substractions to the S&P/TSX index Please give us your opinion on CQE & PNE(think results recently released),which were tipped by Rob Lauzon on BNN on mar 13.Thinking of purchasing these few days Txs a lot. Peter
Q: Hi 5i Team,
On March 22 you answered a few questions about unusual last minute trading in BYD.UN, CRT.UN, NAL and ESL. There was significant increase in volume and price spike downwards in the last few minutes of trading on Friday. I was going to ask you the same question about CGX, THI, TD, and HCG. They all have the same pattern: huge volume in the last few minutes of trading, and large price drop at closing. You attributed this to the “TSX quarterly rebalancing” that occurred on Friday. I have a few questions about that.
Why were they all negative? If it is rebalancing why weren’t any price changes on the positive side? Is it normal that on quarterly rebalancing day they all fall?
In one comment you stated: “Several stocks were added to the index, such as Brookfield Renewable and Chemtrade, and others such as Atlantic Power were removed. Index funds and other funds following the index needed to make significant adjustments to their positions, resulting in a volume/block spike.” If they were added to the index I would have expected the price to increase. CHE.UN had over 2 million shares traded in the last few minutes, and was down about 0.5% for the day. BEP.UN also had a few million shares traded in the last few minutes, but was up about 0.5% on the day. ATP was down 2.3% on large volume at the end of the day.
If this is the normal phenomenon on quarterly rebalancing day I would like to take advantage of it if I was planning to buy around that time. When are the remaining TSX quarterly rebalancing days in 2014? I made some purchases on Friday, and had I known I could have waited until the last few minutes of trading.
Paul
On March 22 you answered a few questions about unusual last minute trading in BYD.UN, CRT.UN, NAL and ESL. There was significant increase in volume and price spike downwards in the last few minutes of trading on Friday. I was going to ask you the same question about CGX, THI, TD, and HCG. They all have the same pattern: huge volume in the last few minutes of trading, and large price drop at closing. You attributed this to the “TSX quarterly rebalancing” that occurred on Friday. I have a few questions about that.
Why were they all negative? If it is rebalancing why weren’t any price changes on the positive side? Is it normal that on quarterly rebalancing day they all fall?
In one comment you stated: “Several stocks were added to the index, such as Brookfield Renewable and Chemtrade, and others such as Atlantic Power were removed. Index funds and other funds following the index needed to make significant adjustments to their positions, resulting in a volume/block spike.” If they were added to the index I would have expected the price to increase. CHE.UN had over 2 million shares traded in the last few minutes, and was down about 0.5% for the day. BEP.UN also had a few million shares traded in the last few minutes, but was up about 0.5% on the day. ATP was down 2.3% on large volume at the end of the day.
If this is the normal phenomenon on quarterly rebalancing day I would like to take advantage of it if I was planning to buy around that time. When are the remaining TSX quarterly rebalancing days in 2014? I made some purchases on Friday, and had I known I could have waited until the last few minutes of trading.
Paul
Q: Hello Peter....I'd like to improve my timing of trading stocks as when to press the do it, execute button. By trading, I mean buying and selling shares related to an investment portfolio. Any suggestions for me or books/articles to 'study'?
.....Thanks....Tom M
.....Thanks....Tom M
Q: Hi,
I noticed that some days there are unusual big numbers of block trades - as per Financial Post - Block trades yesterday. Is there any special reason there were so many trades yesterday.
Thank you.
Bob
I noticed that some days there are unusual big numbers of block trades - as per Financial Post - Block trades yesterday. Is there any special reason there were so many trades yesterday.
Thank you.
Bob
Q: Hi 5i I guess this is a commodities question. Analysts all seem to feel the Cdn. dollar is going to drop quite a bit further over time. Cdn. companies selling commodities at U.S. prices but operating in Cdn. dollars I would think would benefit. But with the Cdn. $ going down does this make a Cdn. company look less desirable to foreign investors Thx Gerry
Q: how to determine what is a good or limit p/e ratio per industry or stock?
Any resource to provide a guideline on historical data?
Thanks.
Any resource to provide a guideline on historical data?
Thanks.
Q: Re March 20th question asked by Frank concerning holding US securities in an RRSP or TFSA account, I spoke today with a Canada Revenue Agency official who indicated that foreign property, such as US securities, held in RRSP's and TFSA's are excluded from the requirement to be reported in Form T1135. If you hold foreign stocks in a non-registered account and their total cost amount in 2013 was more than CAN$ 100,000, you required to file the form.
There is a Question and Answer section about Form 1135 on the CRA website. See the answer to question no. 28.
Hope this helps.
Robert
There is a Question and Answer section about Form 1135 on the CRA website. See the answer to question no. 28.
Hope this helps.
Robert
Q: MyOwnAdvisor interview just another example of what a splendid service you offer. Many thanks, and happy spring.
Q: 'Playing defence' question of Mar 20/14 asked by yossi:
As noted in the answer this could play out in many ways.
One thing an investor can do is conduct all non-margin activity thru a 'cash' brokerage account so that all securities therein cannot be used in the brokers business. RRSP/TFSA's are already 'cash' accounts.
Secondly, set up your accounts to use a third party trustee.
Most brokerage accounts are 'self-trustee', ie they act as their own trustee. This was the same structure (no comparison intended) used by Madoff, MF Global, and Lehman Brothers to access client funds)
Publish at your discretion.
As noted in the answer this could play out in many ways.
One thing an investor can do is conduct all non-margin activity thru a 'cash' brokerage account so that all securities therein cannot be used in the brokers business. RRSP/TFSA's are already 'cash' accounts.
Secondly, set up your accounts to use a third party trustee.
Most brokerage accounts are 'self-trustee', ie they act as their own trustee. This was the same structure (no comparison intended) used by Madoff, MF Global, and Lehman Brothers to access client funds)
Publish at your discretion.
Q: We listened to BNN's duscussion on tax for 2013 returns, and also to our own accountants, to minimize US stocks in RRSPs and TFSA because of the requirements for US in relation to recording and the treaty in relation to this. I am confused on this, are you able to clarify the tax ramifications for Canadians holding US companies in their portfolios? Thabk you.