Q: What are your thoughts about the Canadian dollar vs the US dollar?
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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: Hi Peter: My husband and I who are both in our mid 70's have sold our house and so have a lump sum to invest. We are retired so looking at fairly conservative investing. We are considering investing in ETF's and would appreciate your guidance as to the percentage diversification between Equity ETF's, Bond ETF's and cash equivalents. Thanks Judy
Q: Hello Peter and Co,
In my opinion, stock prices have gone up in the last few years because economic prospects were improving; by bringing more liquidity in the system, quantitative easing has greatly contributed to the rise in stock values.
QE will fade away soon (in the fall? early next year? don't know for sure; when that happens,it would stand to reason that stock values would correct. How does one prepare for such an eventuality? I could raise some cash, say 20-30%. For your info:
my long term objective was to get a growth rate of 7% pa; however, my portfolio has gone up by 14.6% pa in the last 3½ years whereas the benchmark has gone up by only 5.4% pa in that same period.
I value your opinion.
Thanks
Tony
In my opinion, stock prices have gone up in the last few years because economic prospects were improving; by bringing more liquidity in the system, quantitative easing has greatly contributed to the rise in stock values.
QE will fade away soon (in the fall? early next year? don't know for sure; when that happens,it would stand to reason that stock values would correct. How does one prepare for such an eventuality? I could raise some cash, say 20-30%. For your info:
my long term objective was to get a growth rate of 7% pa; however, my portfolio has gone up by 14.6% pa in the last 3½ years whereas the benchmark has gone up by only 5.4% pa in that same period.
I value your opinion.
Thanks
Tony
Q: Hi Team : a general question on takeovers using PFE as an example. Is it fair to assume the buyer's stock price will weaken while the buyout rises? Assuming the buyer (PFE) has to raise equity/debt and the price of the target keeps rising,PFE share price will likely stagnate/fall during this process?
Q: It's my understanding that the yields on Greek, Spanish and Irish debt are currently trading at very thin spreads to US teasuries. My instinct is that this represents an overall high level of risk complanency in the markets in general and that we are likely due for some weakness ahead as things normalize. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Q: Hi Peter, Can you explain the difference averaging down vs. averaging in? For explain I bought 500 shares of AVO at $27 a few weeks ago and I bought 250 more shares at $21 on the initial dip. Was this a bad strategy?
Averaging down didn't work out too well for investors in Nortel or Blackberry.
Averaging down didn't work out too well for investors in Nortel or Blackberry.
Q: Hi:
In iffy markets like this , I usually grab some profit and duck for cover ... even when I react OK I never get back in the market soon enough ...
This time I am taking the daily blows and am staying put ...
Are there stocks I should be looking at as best buying opportunities or sectors to which I should focus ???
Your site has helped me immensely . Thankyou .
In iffy markets like this , I usually grab some profit and duck for cover ... even when I react OK I never get back in the market soon enough ...
This time I am taking the daily blows and am staying put ...
Are there stocks I should be looking at as best buying opportunities or sectors to which I should focus ???
Your site has helped me immensely . Thankyou .
Q: Hi,
I currently only have cash and Canadian stocks in my portfolio, the cash accounts for roughly 40% of my portfolio, but I am looking to invest into some EFT's, mutual funds and US stocks as well. can you please advise me roughly what weightings i should be giving to EFT's, mutual funds and US stocks under the assumption that my Canadian stocks are relatively diversified. And also which EFTs, mutual funds and US stocks would you recommend as of today? I am in my mid 20's and have a relatively long term horizon. Thanks in advance.
I currently only have cash and Canadian stocks in my portfolio, the cash accounts for roughly 40% of my portfolio, but I am looking to invest into some EFT's, mutual funds and US stocks as well. can you please advise me roughly what weightings i should be giving to EFT's, mutual funds and US stocks under the assumption that my Canadian stocks are relatively diversified. And also which EFTs, mutual funds and US stocks would you recommend as of today? I am in my mid 20's and have a relatively long term horizon. Thanks in advance.
Q: What sector weightings would you recommend for a conservative middle age investor, with a balanced focus on capital gains and dividends. Thanks
Q: What is your opinion of market neutral hedge funds as an alternative to bonds in a rising interest environment? Is such a product available through ETF's and, if so, what would you recommend or, if not, what is available to the retail investor in this area? As always, many thanks for your valuable insight.
Q: Hello 5i,
In my childrens RESP, I have AVO, CBO, CDZ, CF, DH, DHX, HCG, IWO,SGY, SJ, SLF, WCP, XGD and ZWB. IWO is about 30% because it is the only US stock but this is down about 7.5% , I do have a 6 year time frame, my thoughts are I will wait until IWO goes back up (hopefully it will) after that I will trim its level to about 5% weightage. Otherwise I am slightly overweight on CBO and SLF which I am quite comfotable with. I put in about $400 every month towards my 2 kids RESP. I am slowly trying to add stocks to match your model portfolio/income portfolio. Please advice whether I should trim add something. Your advice has been great and I hope you continue doing this for many more years to come. Thanks. Shyam
In my childrens RESP, I have AVO, CBO, CDZ, CF, DH, DHX, HCG, IWO,SGY, SJ, SLF, WCP, XGD and ZWB. IWO is about 30% because it is the only US stock but this is down about 7.5% , I do have a 6 year time frame, my thoughts are I will wait until IWO goes back up (hopefully it will) after that I will trim its level to about 5% weightage. Otherwise I am slightly overweight on CBO and SLF which I am quite comfotable with. I put in about $400 every month towards my 2 kids RESP. I am slowly trying to add stocks to match your model portfolio/income portfolio. Please advice whether I should trim add something. Your advice has been great and I hope you continue doing this for many more years to come. Thanks. Shyam
Q: Hi.How low a stock should go down before you should sell i(10%,20%,30% )even if the company looks to be a good company (e.g..AVO,or AYA ) ?.Thanks.ebrahim
Q: Tech stock have really fallen off a cliff. Is there still a bull market for them left?
Q: Does it make any sense to buy 5 year GIC's as part of a balanced portfolio given that interests rates are at all time lows and rates are forecast to rise over this time frame? Thanks. Michael
Q: Hi Gang, I was hoping to find a site that gives clear, easily readable, information indicating which sectors of the market are seeing the biggest influx of money and, more importantly, which companies lead the way.
Thanks
Kyle
Thanks
Kyle
Q: Hi team, just wondering about demographics and what sectors you feel will benefit longterm and what new trends might emerge. Thanks
Q: For someone retired, age 60, no debt, no pension other than Gov't, and capital of 1.5 million, what would be your recommended asset allocation between cash, bonds, stocks etc and which, if any, of your recommended portfolios (or both as the case may be) would be appropriate in the equation. Thanks as always.
Q: Good Morning Peter -- and all the 5 I team as well!
I have a general question about how "not" to time the market, and how to exercise the better part of wisdom if one is interested in growth over present dividend yield.
For instance, ... if one holds a fairly decent company, but its sector happens to be out of favour at this time, and hence the stock price is flat lining, or even reversing, would it make sense to pull out that money and re-deploy it into other sectors that are favourable and ride another sector wave for a time -- or is it better to stand and hold, through good times and bad.
It seems counter-intuitive to me to watch dollars erode while other sectors revive and feeling helpless not to participate because cash is already tied up. I see the logic of a long term hold, in one sense, if someone has many years to spend in the investment market. But, in a shorter term context, for instance two years or less, is there any proven statistic that says you're better off standing your ground?
In one general example, as I watch profits erode from the Tech sector while the Energy sector takes fire, is there any point in holding on to tech companies that are flat lining?
In general, I think I know what your answer would be in terms of overall investment strategies. And yet, I still wonder, what your strategy would be as a portfolio manager. Would you hold, through thick and thin, or would you re-assess and re-allocate as each sector takes favour especially given a shorter term horizon?
As ever, I appreciate your thoughts and opinions, as they have guided me very well through thick and thin. Even before the days of signing up to this newsletter, which is coming up to my 6-month anniversary with 5I, I garnered great wisdom and opportunities through watching you on BNN -- ACQ being only one of many opportunities that you led me to! I always listen closely to what you say. Thanks.
I have a general question about how "not" to time the market, and how to exercise the better part of wisdom if one is interested in growth over present dividend yield.
For instance, ... if one holds a fairly decent company, but its sector happens to be out of favour at this time, and hence the stock price is flat lining, or even reversing, would it make sense to pull out that money and re-deploy it into other sectors that are favourable and ride another sector wave for a time -- or is it better to stand and hold, through good times and bad.
It seems counter-intuitive to me to watch dollars erode while other sectors revive and feeling helpless not to participate because cash is already tied up. I see the logic of a long term hold, in one sense, if someone has many years to spend in the investment market. But, in a shorter term context, for instance two years or less, is there any proven statistic that says you're better off standing your ground?
In one general example, as I watch profits erode from the Tech sector while the Energy sector takes fire, is there any point in holding on to tech companies that are flat lining?
In general, I think I know what your answer would be in terms of overall investment strategies. And yet, I still wonder, what your strategy would be as a portfolio manager. Would you hold, through thick and thin, or would you re-assess and re-allocate as each sector takes favour especially given a shorter term horizon?
As ever, I appreciate your thoughts and opinions, as they have guided me very well through thick and thin. Even before the days of signing up to this newsletter, which is coming up to my 6-month anniversary with 5I, I garnered great wisdom and opportunities through watching you on BNN -- ACQ being only one of many opportunities that you led me to! I always listen closely to what you say. Thanks.
Q: If we get a 10 percent or more correction in the coming months would bond etfs or high yield bond etfs be a place to hide. Thanks.
Q: Do you disagree with David Stanley's " cautious" comment in a recent CMS?
"I could cautiously conclude that initial yield is of greater significance to a Canadian buy-and-hold investor than dividend growth. Of course, this statement has its limits." I ask because of a comment you make about preferring growth in dividends to height(so to speak).
Because I am a retiree, I tend to favour higher dividends because I don't have growth time, and because at this stage in my life I want to spend, rather than reinvest, them. Is this an OK approach? I'm aware that one needs to be wary of very high dividends.
"I could cautiously conclude that initial yield is of greater significance to a Canadian buy-and-hold investor than dividend growth. Of course, this statement has its limits." I ask because of a comment you make about preferring growth in dividends to height(so to speak).
Because I am a retiree, I tend to favour higher dividends because I don't have growth time, and because at this stage in my life I want to spend, rather than reinvest, them. Is this an OK approach? I'm aware that one needs to be wary of very high dividends.