Investment Q&A

Q: Great new website.

My question is about interest rates. I saw an interview recently discussing interest rate cycles, stating that we have have had 30 years of interest rate decreases, that interest rates have now bottomed and we have begun a long term trend of rate increase. The guest also said that the last long term rate increase cycle was during the 1950s and 1960s. During that 20 year period, the interest payments on bonds were mostly offset by capital losses, resulting in a net return of less than a half of 1 percent annually over 20 years while stocks returned 19% annually over that period. In your opinion, what would be the catalyst for a repeat of this scenario? Does this mean that retirees should shun bonds in favour of stocks even though the risk might be higher?

Thanks and great work

Q: I try to maintain a diversified portfolio. However, I am wondering when you refer to owing "materials" what role metals and other mineable resources should play. For example, I tend not to own metals or mining stocks but instead, I choose to invest in other materials such as chemicals (MX) or lumber (SJ) (and maybe even including CCL as your portfolios list it as materials).

Am I getting "proper" diversification this way or should one also invest in gold, silver, copper assets etc?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Hi! Are we getting a sustainable energy rebound? If yes could you arrange the following stocks in order of preference: TOG, BIR, NVA, KEL, SPE, TOU and perhaps Xeg.
Thank you!

Q: The question of what to do when one is worried about the possibility of a sharp market correction often arises. In the past you have proposed increasing the portfolio allocation to cash. As a complement to that strategy, what about tilting the portfolio more toward low beta (less than 0.5, say) stocks? I’m thinking of stocks like L, ECI, CSH.UN, KBL, SJ, SLF. How much protection - qualitatively speaking -do you think that would provide against the possibility of a sharp correction of, say, 10-15%?

Q: Interested to know the percentage that each sector represents of the TSX, i.e. financial, utilities, energy, etc. Is it prudent to use this sector representation to structure a portfolio. Thanks, David

Q: Do you think it wise to sell all securities until this US Korea problem gets fixed one way or the other. If hostilities do break out I imagine the world stock exchanges are going to break down.

Thank You
Craig

Q: I have just sold my sailboat to a US buyer so they proceeds are in USD and my wife has had primarily US clients lately. To integrate this into my portfolio and maintain by target balance about 75% of it needs to be converted to CAD.

I know forex is difficult to predict but would appreciate if the CAD run-up is overdone or if it is supported by predicted pace of interest rate hikes in Canada vs the US and likely to maintain its current level for a while.

I can do 3 transactions to meet the threshold for reduced exhange costs at my online brokerage and was planning 1 this week and then 2-3 months down the road to do the next.
Thanks.

Q: If you had two or three hundred thousand dollars (not in an RRSP or TFSA), and you wanted to grow it aggressively for a period of about three to five years, how would you invest it, and what kind of a return would you expect? Would your answer be different if it was only fifty thousand? Assume that I don't need any income from the investment, that I have maximal tolerance for risk, and that I've already tried tulips but I was 380 years too late. Thanks.

Q: Why day after day my Canadian stocks go down a little bit but my us stocks go up....Friday everyone of my Canadian dropped and 2/3 of my us stocks went up?

Q: Hi Folks:
Do you have any opinion as to where the Canadian/ US dollar relationship will settle?
Thank You
brian

Q: According to the experts in seasonal investing, September is statistically the worst time for markets, but then things start to pick up again later in October and into November. Would you let this consideration influence your investment decisions? I have capital to deploy but I'm wondering if I should wait another month or so before I start new positions. Also, are foreign markets (Europe, EM, Japan, etc) subject to the same September curse, on average? Thanks very much.

Q: Good morning
I have not seen any reports on Canada's economic boom. I am wondering what the key drivers are to spur almost almost 4% growth per quarter this year so far?
Thank You
Clarence

Q: My question pertains to market history. Could you comment on market activity during times of major conflicts. For example were the markets operating on a "business as usual" mode during world war II or did the market display different characteristics such as lack of volume or liquidity? Thank You

Q: If the Canadian economy is working on all cylinders WHY is the market not reflecting this. Markets should be a good indicator of the over all economy shouldn't it. Very frustrating!!

Q: The CAD is gaining value vs. USD lately.Where do you expect it to peak in the foreseeable future ?...say 6 months
Thanks,
Jerald

Q: Hi Peter and Associates,

I hear some talk of tax selling as early as August? Some professionals speak of setting up their portfolios to avoid and/or to take advantage of year end tax selling pressures? Some sectors and/or specific stocks have seen modest to significant declines this year and risk seeing above average volumes of yearend tax loss selling?

Many experts do not suggest trying to time the market but also talk of good entry points to initiate a position if not starting with partial ones to begin. Then there are those who factor in seasonality or other technical indicators. Without wanting to sound pessimistic, more than a few guests on business programs express caution, have increased cash weighting to have dry powder in reserve.Markets are not seen as cheap but opinions vary as what to do?

Bottom line, market corrections are part of reality and one has not occurred in some time? What percentage cash might be viewed as a reasonable cushion for a middle of the road risk investor with a 65/35 (Equity/ Fixed Income) objective who would prefer to reduce equity exposure by building up some cash reserves at this time? What suggestions might you have in response to the above and specifically, what reduction in equity exposure might be reasonable and/or sufficient to have substance? Assume a 5% weight in gold forms part of the overall strategy and a sufficiently large portfolio to provide diversification and no over weightings within it.

Fundamentally, are there any specific strategies an investor might use or at least consider in the last months of any year and more specifically this year?

Thank you.

Mike

Q: Dear 5i
I look at the chart of the TSX and see that its been trending downward over the last 6 months or so while the S&P and DOW have been trending upwards over the same time period . My thought is that it might be a good time to invest in the TSX now as that downward trend is most likely to start to reverse upward and not invest in the DOW or S&P as that trend is likely to reverse downward . On the other hand 5i generally advocates investing into strength meaning investing the opposite to what i`m suggesting . The other thought of course is to invest equally amongst them all so diversified across the board . I know predicting the market is impossible but i still like to invest to some degree on probabilities .
Appreciate your thoughts .
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: I presently have no healthcare or tech holdings in either my RRSP, TFSA or cash. Am retired,like dividends, but can take some risk.

Looking at having 10% in each sector with HHL (50%),CSH.UN (25%),GUD(25%)in healthcare and TXF(50%),ABT(25%)PHO(25%) in tech.

What do you think of this approach and the individual holdings?

Where would you put each one ( RRSP,TFSA cash)?

Thanks Derek

Q: With the conflict that is on going with the U.S.A and North Korea is it better to have a wait and see attitude before putting anymore funds into the Stock Market. Thanks . Ernie

Q: Just comments.AIF-basing on better than expected Q2 revenue & eps,3 firms(TD,CF & RY) raised target price to $36 & upgraded stock.Reportedly best one day performance since 8/15 PKI-RY & BNS downgraded target price to $31 & $33.75 CGX-6 out of 7 firms downgraded to $46-$52.1st time in the last 3 years that Ellis Jacob is not that upbeat in interview on BNN after release of results. In this strong earnings season,strong results will be handsomely rewarded(eg AIF,SHOP,TOY),& vice versa.