Investment Q&A

Q: Looking to put more reserves into bonds & more secure investments. Looking at your "Balanced Portfolio" I do not see your favourites in this area?
I am underwater with XEB which has little exposure to Russia and Ukraine (downloaded their portfolio), do you have alternatives with a good return and expected to perform well during an economic downturn?
Is there anything fundamentally wrong with XEB as an investment financially?

Q: Good afternoon Gentlemen! Thank-you for your excellent service.
Could you share your thoughts on the the iShares JP Morgan Emerging Bond Market recent slump?
During volatile times I have retreated to Bonds to avoid volatility but you have warned about XEB in the past. Downloading their holding I have a rough total of 2.9% related to Russia and Ukraine.
Do you see further down-side to this investment?

Q: Hello 5i Team
I want to invest in an Emerging Markets Bond Fund or ETF. My preference is to invest in Canadian Funds. Choices I have found are:
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) – Symbol XEB.CA
BMO Emerging Markets Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF – Symbol ZEF.CA
RBC Emerging Markets Bond Fund Series D – Fund Code RBF1097:CA

Questions I have are:
1 – It is not clear from BlackRock’s website, but is XEB 100 % invested in BlackRock’s US ETF EMB:US ?
1 – XEB and ZEF net assets are $97M and $380M, is the lower net assets a concern?
2 - XEB and ZEF average trading volume is 1,707 and 2,664, is the lower daily average volume a concern?
3 – Although the MER for RBF1097 is 1.07% is this a better choice than XEB/ZEF whose MER is 0.54% and 0.55 % as the net assets for RBF1097 is approximately $1.7B?
4 – Any other ETF/MF that I should review?
Thanks

Q: My fixed income exposure is 100% through my RRSP, of which 90% are individual bonds, 5% XBB and 5% XLB. I have a bond worth 5% of my RRSP due next week. Should I diversify further my bond exposure with ETFs like XEB or VGB, especially if I believe rates will start climbing within the next 12 months? Thanks, Martin

Q: Your thoughts on buying ZEF as an income security? I currently have few bonds and low international exposure. If you have an alternative suggestion for s similar security, that would be great too. Thank you.

Q: Hello Peter and team,
What do you think about these fixed income ETFs to make up twenty percent of my portfolio?
CBO 5%
CLF 5%
XHY 5%
XEB 2.5%
VBG 2.5%
Should I also add a real return bond ETF?
Thank you.
Pamela

Q: Hello 5i:
knowing this is one of your favourite funds in its category (I now own it), can you please advise something similar in the global space? Or, if possible, two funds/etf's; one which would include the US and one which would not.
thanks
Paul L