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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,

We could very well be heading into stagflation, which I understand to be slowing or negative growth, high unemployment, weak demand and rising inflation.

In such a scenario, which would be the best stocks or ETFs to favour ?

Many thanks,

Jacques IDS
Read Answer Asked by Jacques on April 09, 2025
Q: Canadian HISA accounts do not have such good yields anymore. And the income is taxed as interest. I was looking at my 2022, 2023 tax returns and the revenue from canadian ETF like ZAG, XSB, XLB was mostly ROC. If I’m not wrong, thus, much more tax efficient? Wouldn’t be a good idea to switch from HISA to XSB, XBB, etc to park money in the next few months?

Do you know if high-Yield ETFs are taxed the same way (ROC) ?
USD-HISA are more generous so the logic might be different.
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Denise on March 19, 2025
Q: For long term investment what would be a neutral proportion of bonds in terms of distribution among these 4 or are there better options? Currently sitting on 17% cash which I intend to redeploy in stocks when we have better clarity, 36% XBB, 26% XLB, 12% XHY and 9$ XSB for 100% of my bond/cash portfolio.
Thank you.
Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on March 18, 2025
Q: Generally speaking what would your percent allocation of the above ETF's be in ones bond portfolio?
Read Answer Asked by Joe on February 19, 2025
Q: Hello 5i,

We were reading a report on the risk for corporate bonds due to a tightening of spreads. Our goal from a previous question is to protect funds needed in the next 3 years to augment CPP and OAS (no pensions).

We added bonds, but that plan may require a new assessment. Currently, our portfolio has a small position (2%) of Bonds consisting of AGT, VCLT, VCIT, & VAB. We also have laddered GIC’s for 5 years, plus PSA & BIL (for vacations in the US).

We are looking at replacing AGT & VAB with PSA and VCLT & VCIT with BIL. Do you have any other suggestions that may meet our goals?

Thank you
D&J
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on January 08, 2025
Q: Hello

I have been accumulating short term bonds ETFs and ladder ETFs. Now in a new cycle should one focus on accumulating long binds such as XLB. Also do you have a active bond
ETF name you recommend?

Thank you

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Stephane on January 08, 2025
Q: Hi Peter, looking for a suggestion of where to park $400k (from a house sale) for the next 1 year. Besides GICs and Cash ETFs is there a slightly higher risk play you would consider at this time if it was your own money ? Thank you, Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on December 16, 2024
Q: I am concerned about the possibility of a bear market and would like to reduce my equity risk. I am looking for a safe investment which is highly liquid. I am in the process of considering cashable GICs. Are there any ETFs which you would recommend for money market funds? Can you please recommend an ETF for the Canadian market and one ETF for the US market.

Also, for a 1-2 year hold, what type of bond ETF would you recommend (long bond, mid-term, etc) for a fairly safe investment? Again, can you please recommend one Canadian and one US ETF.

Thank you again for this excellent service.
Read Answer Asked by Dale on November 25, 2024
Q: Good afternoon 5i staff
To a question concerning the possibility of inflation and David Rosenberg’s reaction to that, you said:

For Canada, we like XSB, and for the US we like SHY.

I hope I am not quoting you out of context here. But, I was wondering whether you were saying that ´supposing ‘ an inflationary environment, we would choose these. Or, whether you meant that we would be facing an inflationary environment and these would be the best choice. In other words, in your opinion, which would be the best choice for today for a permanent allotment to bond funds, short term or longer, such as xsb and agg.?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on November 22, 2024
Q: Hello. David Rosenberg is recommending a move to cash and, I think, short duration treasuries (per Globe article published today). What are the best investment vehicles for short term treasuries? And what do you think of his current opinion?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Robert on November 19, 2024
Q: Building the bond part of my investments. What proportion would you allocate to each of the four indicated. 2-What is the difference between XSB and XBB? 3- Do you consider OK to allocate some XHY as a bond equivalent?

Thanks for your great service.

Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on October 23, 2024
Q: I have $800,000.00 from the sale of a house, and am looking for a safe place to park it. There is a possibility of further interest rate cuts, so would a long term bond ETF be a good place?
Read Answer Asked by James on October 11, 2024
Q: Up to this point I have been a growth investor. Recently retired, I am converting some RRSP into a RIF and want to lower the risk profile. I am 60 y/o.

Kindly advise some ETFs that you would recommend in Canada or US.

Thanks a lot,
Read Answer Asked by Marcela on October 08, 2024
Q: Looking to add some longer duration bonds with inflation and interest rates dropping. You think this is a good move. Already own lpay, zst and cbil and looking for diversification, any other suggestions are welcome.
Thanks and have a great day.
Read Answer Asked by Sonny on September 19, 2024
Q: Bond ETF's like XLB have performed poorly in the face of peak interest rates and pending Fed rate cuts. Could you offer some insight as to why there has been recent weak demand for US treasuries, whether you see that trend continuing in the near term and at what point bonds may become a rewarding investment?
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on May 30, 2024
Q: my position in XLB:CA has almost recovered to break even. i am adjusting my behaviour in investing to try to avoid betting on conditions such as rising , falling, or staying near current for longer. I am getting the feeling from comments that long bonds are a play on rates dropping. If this is true, i would rather be positioned in bonds for more balanced risk/return regardless of rates. Any suggestions ?
Many thanks for your great service!
Read Answer Asked by Tom on December 19, 2023
Q: Do you think it is a good time to add bonds? It seems the most likely scenario's (slow growth with moderating inflation like now, or full blown recession) will be more favourable to bond investors than equity holders. What is the asset mix you would employ and do you favour longer bonds today? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on October 26, 2023
Q: Some time ago when rates were starting to go up I bought XSB for the bond (cash) part of my investments, . The thinking was that the "Short" would protect against rising rates. Alas, things did not work out that way and the holding is down about 9 %, not including interest paid. At this point, can you see any advantage to holding XSB with a return of 2-3 % when GICs are available at more than 5%? Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Leonard on October 13, 2023
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