Investment Q&A

Q: Given yesterday’s UK referendum result, I expect there will be widespread panic and big declines on markets worldwide on Friday. I’m guessing your immediate advice will likely be “don’t panic, do nothing, wait and see how events unfold, etc”. In my specific case however, while I was expecting the “remain” side to win, I was also fearful and preparing for the worst just the same to the point that I am now 50% in cash. That is a lot of dry powder and I plan to start buying first thing Friday morning and into the coming days. What advice would you give someone who has been “doing nothing” for a while and is now looking to put sidelined cash to good use. Where do you think the best opportunities will be (both Foreign and domestic) to pick up specific names (or ETFs) that will get beaten up in the coming days worse than they likely deserve. Please provide a few names or ETFs for someone looking to be opportunistic on this occasion.

Q: Hi Peter and team. Just heard the news this morning. Can you suggest a few good large cap stocks with good yields to pick up if there's a significant drop in price. Looking mostly for good yield, relatively safe and at least a bit of growth. Preferably Trading on New York Stock Exchange or as ADRs. Thank you. Tulio

Q: Hello Peter, I am looking for some bonds to add to my portfolio, I would appreciate your ranking the above for me. Also, your opinion of how would they react to upcoming interest rate increases. Perhaps can suggest a better choice. Many thanks, J.A.P. Burlington

Q: Hi Ryan and Peter,
My question is of a general nature and concerns a problem many seniors are having with portfolio construction. I'm 70 years old, have a defined benefit pension which, along with my wife's defined plan, covers our monthly commitments. We are underinvested in the fixed income part of our portfolio but because of the lack of returns on bonds and GIC'S, are hesitant to commit a large portion of our savings to this sector.
As with many seniors who have their monthly expenses covered by pensions, we need guidance as to what percentage of our funds should be in fixed income. What percentage do you think is appropriate and could you suggest a few specific investments.
If you believe, as I do, we would be better off investing in Canadian Blue Chip companies that offer relatively safe growing dividends, could you suggest several such companies.

Thank you in advance for your much appreciated guidance.

Q: Hi- which CDN $ non hedged European equity ETF's would you recommend and what are there total expense rations and yields. Would you recommend buying before or after the Brexit vote?
Thanks.

Q: Hello Peter,
In your latest Market Update you are suggesting:
"....We would view any declines in the market/stocks during the lead up to the Brexit vote as an opportunity to add to names that investors may have been waiting for 'better prices' on...."
Providing that there will be opportunity,I am planing to buy PBH,SIS,NFI,JKHY.US and AMZN.US .
My question is: when do you think is better to buy ,on day of voting for BREXIT , before day of voting or after day of voting?

Thanks

Q: If Brexit happens, I suspect ETFs like FEZ and EZU will take quite a hit (they already are). If that happens do you think these 2 would be good to pick up at bargain rates? Are there other ones you would prefer?

thanks,
Paul

Q: This is a follow up to your responses on these Bond funds (XSB CBO). Which would you prefer, and why? CBOs market value seems to erode over time versus XSB. Is this a concern?

Q: I have some cash parked to build a house and am wondering if I should keep this as cash or invest these in bonds to get some interest. If the latter, what do you think of 50% in XSB and 50% in XGB?

Q: I have some US $ sitting in my RRSP account which I am looking to invest. Preservation of capital is important and I am looking into this preferred share etf. Your thoughts please.

Q: Where do you see the greatest risk to equity and bond investments?
1. High inflation caused by economic growth finally putting to work all the money that was printed by central bank quantitive easing around the world; or,
2. Deflation caused by slow growth due to unfavourable demographics and financial deleveraging by consumers.

What would you recommend as the best defense in each of these scenarios?
Thanks,

Q: I have made some good gains on XCS(24%) and XIC (10.5%) from the market runup from January. Thanks to your article about small caps stocks from last year. Now I am wondering if I should take the gains, wait for a sell off and buy in again. With most of my stocks I never time the market and its all buy and hold but with XCS and perhaps XIC I am considering taking profits. Or mayble I should just take profits from XCS..Note that the holdings are in a registerd account so tax is not an issue. Your opinion is most valued. cheers, Shyam

Q: If Harry Dent is right and we are in for a few years of deflation, which Canadian stocks/ETF's do you recommend to see us through it?

Q: I see that George Soros is buying gold. Carl Icahn has made a big bear bet on the market of 150% net short. Bill Gross calls negative yield bond gang up a "supernova" waiting to explode. 10 year bonds of UK, Japan ad Germany are at record lows. How is 5i feeling about the market? These factors do give me pause to worry!

Q: Using Uranium as a fuel seems like a no-brainer. It is available, cheap, and naturally disintegrates energy by half-life. Nuclear reactors make electricity, produce no CO2, and should last 50-60 years with proper maintenance. Why are "climate change" countries not rushing into nuclear energy and be done with "fossil fuels"?
The questions I have are:
1. How many years does it take to pay back the cost and be nuclear profitable?
2. For me, Chernobyl was the only disaster, 3 mile bend was a scare and Japan was poor private maintenance.
3. Will the world not see this as the best alternative compared to huge wind farms, solar acres, trainloads of crude or pipelines everywhere.
4. Does 5i see the day in the near future when nuclear is the answer to the carbon imprint and pollution.
Thank you, I read 5i everyday. Rene

Q: Given today's market and the expectation of a US rate hike, could you identify 5 ETF's that you would be comfortable with to provide safety of principal and income. Thanks.

Q: I am thinking about parking some cash in one or both of these ETF's (perhaps a 50/50 split) for the next 12 months. I understand that rate increases could adversely impact the unit price but given that rates are not expected to increase in Canada anytime soon and these are Canadian corporate bond funds not American would there be any impact from a US rate hike? If so, why? Secondly, what do you think of the downside risk and is there a better option you would suggest.
Thank you

Q: Hello 5i Do you think that ZPW could act as a hedge against choppy markets while collecting a nice dividend. Thanks. Gary

Q: I have some cash in my account and am thinking of adding to MAL and to XHY. Recent news and performance of MAL has been good, but I am concerned about the effect of US rate increases on XHY. My account is well diversified. I would appreciate your comments on both.

Q: This ETF in your Income P/F has been pretty flat since 5i started it, I think in 2014, and do you think it will remain a long term hold? How much of a hit would you expect it to take with a quarter point rise in the Fed rate and what is its duration? Thanks, J.