Investment Q&A

Q: the recent data seems to suggest that the markets,reflecting the average stock,is in a bear market with growth slowing, and recent interest rates seem to be going lower to reflect that. If we are in a bear market, how does one make money, as opposed to preserve capital?

Q: I read most of the questions and answers to help me stay informed with the market. Haven't read whether this is a long term correction in the market. James Hodgison, Curvature Hedge Funds seems pretty accurate as in December he predicted a bear market beginning in January. He is right. Vector Vest eventually will come on and say that they had told everyone to get out of the market in January. They predict history. What do you see happening in the next quarter? Thanks so much. Dennis

Q: hello, hello...just in from a long morning coffee with friends....and when I turned on the computer, this headline popped up "Chinese stock plunge triggers trading halt" While I hold a diverse balance portfolio, I wondering what this plunge means going forward for canadian and american centric positions?..........wow, with this plunge there and much less here, what at way to open investing for 2016, eh?!........Tom

Q: Happy New Year Peter and all at 5i.
Our diversification outside of Canada is through the 5i portfolio Canadian companies with such diversification (ATD, BNS, BOS, CSU, SJ, TCN etc). We don't have any US or Global domiciled stocks. Is this enough looking at 2016 or is it prudent to add some US or Global focus ? Also, we've always been impressed with Dennis Mitchell who now has 4 US/Global funds at Sprott. Though new funds, based upon Mr Mitchell's track record at Sentry, would you recommend any of these ? An alternative ? What percentage of a 5i based portfolio ? Sincere thanks for all your guidance in 2014 and 2015. All the Best in 2016 ! Paul

Q: Here is an easy question (or not). Are we in a bull or a bear market? Obviously oil and the base and precious metals are in a bear, but if we take them out, is the rest of the market in a bull market?

Q: It is my understanding that as of January 2016 the "private equity market" will now be available to all investors not just "high" wealth investors.
Could you comment of this change and whether or not ordinary investor's should pursue this opportunity?

Q: Can one construct a portfolio based on beta. In other words can you structure it in such a way that if the overall market declines say 1% you portfolio would go down .3% therefore a beta of .3. Just wondering if this makes sense. Thank You

Q: Last question to 5iR for 2015…and it is about 2016. I would like your comments on the target weights for portfolio asset allocation. (Details include a portfolio made up of a 20% income segment, 10 % growth and the balance of 70% balanced……and the dollar denomination, 80% CD$ an 20% US$)

CS 10%
Retail 5%
CD 10%
F 10%
Real Estate 5%
E 5%
Pipelines and services 5%
Health Care 10% (CD$ and US$ 50/50 split)
IT 20% (CD$ and US$ 50/50 split)
Industrial 15%
Material/Mining 1%…the plug figure
Transport 2%
Utilities 2% other than pipelines.

……thanks for keeping on the investment rails in 2015

May all at 5iR party well to ring in 2016!…..Tom

Q: Do you see a sector rotation taking place into 2016 where enb - bns - cgx- t - slf- and mg could outperform and thus should be brought up to same allocation as esl - dsg - ccl - csu....thanks

Q: Merry Christmas and happy new years.Thanks for sharing your knowledge with all of us. I just read a book by Marin Katusa titled The Colder War about world oil market. What is your view on the future of petrodollar ?

Q: In a portfolio it is generally recommended that you avoid a weighting of more than 5% per equity. My question is as follows. Assuming your total portfolio is 1M. The split 60% equities and 40% fixed income. On the equity side this would imply 20 stocks at an average value of 30K per stock to meet the 5% guideline. On the fixed income side does the same rule apply or can you say 2 ETF's at 200K each. Say 200K of CBO and 200K of ZSU as an example . It brings the weighting to 20% each. Notwithstanding one could probably go to a product that gives you the entire bond spectrum and put 400K in one ETF. What is your opinion and recommendation.

Always appreciate your incite and all the best in the new year.

Q: I am baffled at the discrepency between forecast and actual numbers of the US weekly oil inventories. This week a plus of 4.5MM vs a forecasted reduction of 1.8MM. Can you shed some light on what could create that much variance on a weekly reported number?

Carl

Q: I am wondering what your reaction is to the proposed 4 rate increases for 2016 and 4 more for 2017. My impression was that the rate increases would come much more slowly. Was this your expectation and what the effects would be on the US and Canadian economy and equity markets.
Many thanks
Mike

Q: I WONDER IF YOU COULD PROVIDE ME WITH YOUR INSIGHT INTO WHERE YOU FEEL THE U.S. AND CANADA ARE IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS CYCLES.
THANKS,
RANDY

Q: Having read so many questions recently from your customers citing down 20%, 50% and worse; and feeling the pain myself ... would it make sense as part of a "flight to safety" plan (tip the risk reward in my favor/minimise downside risk) to buy a real return bond fund - or something similar? Looks like the dividend is only 1.9% but short term that beats a lot of other choices.

Thanks. Merry Christmas and the Best of Years in 2016.

Q: Good Afternoon: My question is really currency related rather than Visa specifically. I own a few US stocks including Visa which fortunately for me I purchased when there was not as much difference between the US and Canadian dollar. As a result of stock performance and the difference in currency valuation I have done well. I would like to make a few more US purchases but cant make myself do so with the almost 40% hit. In my opinion some time in the future our dollar will get stronger. Do you have any suggestions or can you recommend Canadian companies or ETF's that I can buy without being so concerned about the currency. Thank You.

Q: Hi,

I have just started investing and making my own portfolio this year. I selected a few core stocks to begin with and have been slowly adding positions in other stocks for diversity. As such my weightings range from 3 to 10%. Over the last couple of months about half of my stocks have dropped 10 to 30%. My question is, going forward is it better to continue adding new positions or adding to stocks I currently own at their lower values?

I like the names of the stocks I own. Diversification is ok but not properly weighted.

Thanks again for the advice.

Paul

Q: When the market was doing well, all the analysts were positive on the future of stocks. Now that there have been some stumbles, the bears seem to be coming out of the woods. They say that quantitative easing and a zero interest rate policy has created a stock market bubble by forcing yield investors to switch from bonds to dividend paying stocks. I even heard one analyst on BNN say that this feels like the tech bubble of the late 1990's. I don't really feel that multiples are stretched. Although some high yielding dividend stocks are trading at higher multiples than 10 years ago when interest rates were "normal" and some high growth stocks are trading at rich multiples, overall the market does not seem over valued. Of course, if we see double digit inflation and much higher interest rates, then I would expect a significant pullback. Otherwise, the market feels like it has room to grow. I would appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks,

Q: Can you explain why U.S. preferred share ETFs like PGF and PFF have considerably outperformed their Canadian counterparts such as CPD and ZPR ? Thanks, Joe

Q: Maybe this is not an easy question to answer, but when you say a particular stock is cheap or very cheap how do you determine this? Also, how would you determine if a stock is cheap AND high quality? Thanks!