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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: Retired dividend-income investor. I currently own BNS and RY. I was planning on topping up BNS, then read an answer about harvesting capital losses. I had already take enough losses to cover my gains to look after 2020 income tax implications.
I selected BNS for its international diversification and RY for its USA diversification.

I am now considering harvesting my new BNS capital loss and was considering either CM or BMO for immediate replacement, wait a bit then do my original top-up later. Which bank to you consider the better replacement?

Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on March 23, 2020
Q: I have few bonds in my RRSP portfolio, one of them is RUSSEL METALS (HY) 6%19APR22. The price for this bond is down significantly in the past 3 weeks even though there is only 2 years to maturity. While my other bonds down 3-5% this one is down almost 20% so I don't think it can be explained by investors selling to free up cash... Is a risk that Russell Metals will go bankrupt in two years or will not be able to pay bond value at maturity? Is there a risk that bond issuer defers payout on maturity date or somehow avoids paying maturing bonds?
Read Answer Asked by Jeffrey on March 23, 2020
Q: Why are all the insurance companies getting slaughtered? Because of ultralow interest rates? Good buy at these prices? Think the dividends are safe?

What would be your favourite?
Read Answer Asked by John on March 23, 2020
Q: I am a buy and hold investor with 5 to 10 years of time horizon.
Have the following 7 stocks in Canadian financials in the order of their weights in our portfolio. Financials makeup roughly 7.5% of the total portfolio including cash positions and we like their dividend. TD, RY, BNS, BMO, SLF, CM, and MFC. I like to reduce exposure to financials and also like to reduce number of different shares. Two questions:
1. Is 7.5% a reasonable weight considering the current situation?
2. Which one of these I should sell to reduce financial weight and to reduce the number of shares in financials?

Read Answer Asked by Naren on March 23, 2020
Q: Hi Everyone at 5i! I hope you and yours are all healthy and doing well! I am 38.17% down on my CPD holding. I now pays a hefty 7.11% and the share price is nice. Is now a good time to invest, collecting the dividend and waiting for the price to get better? This is for the conservative part of the Portfolio . Cheers, Tamara
Read Answer Asked by Tamara on March 23, 2020
Q: I am trying to evaluate the appropriateness of selling covered call options in this market and thought with your experience and knowledge you might be able to analyse the situation. The premiums are high . But, I the risks are, too. You mention that a good way to get into this market is average into it. Well, if you buy Microsoft to sell a covered call on, you have to buy one hundred shares. That doesn't look like averaging in. You get a good premium But the market is so volatile that in a month, the stock could be much lower, and you have lost your opportunity of averaging in. Or, the virus could be more under control and the stock could be way over the strike price. And you may have lost the opportunity to have microsoft at a lower price. I know that this is always the case with selling covered calls, But, it seems that the current market exaggerates that situation. The only way that I can justify it is by saying that I dont think the turbulance will be over in a month and therefore go ahead. I suppose another safeguard would be to do limited covered call trading and average in with other money. I would be interested to know your perspective on this.
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on March 23, 2020
Q: With respect to energy producers, would it be fair to say that producers such as Suncor, who also have refining assets, are better shielded against the current downturn in the energy sector, given that the cost of the input (crude oil) allows for a (theoretically) larger crack spread ? Unrelated to energy, do you believe that a company such as 3M, which manufactures various items used in the medical field, will weather the current corovirus downturn a bit better ?
Read Answer Asked by Mike on March 23, 2020
Q: Assuming this downtrend will bottom at some point, and eventually recover, in your opinion, which three sectors offer the best chance of minimum damage in any downturn, and the best chance to recover sooner rather than later in an upturn. Could you name and rank (best first), 3 dividend stocks in each sector that you feel will survive the downturn and lead the way in recovering in each of the three sectors. Thank you. Warren
Read Answer Asked by Will on March 23, 2020
Q: I am looking at buying into these three companies over the next six months to take a small speculative position. Are these three good candidates for survival? Would their be an ETF in this sector which would be a better option given the risk/reward?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on March 23, 2020
Q: I sent a question in on March 19 and have not received a reply. Here is a similar question as the 2 I previously questioned were asked about by others and answered and so here is a question omitting that portion. Everyone is working from home and CTXS provides the program. It’s doing very well. Your opinion? Here are 4 that are under water I have. Should I be adding to them. They are: GDX, EIF, IFC and AC. Thank you Dennis
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on March 23, 2020
Q: Which of these airlines would you choose given the market downturn and uncertain recovery time in the travel industry? I am looking at buying incrementally into a speculative position over the next six months. I would consider Delta, however USD are expensive at this time. Should that be a consideration?
Read Answer Asked by Terry on March 23, 2020
Q: I am an 88 year old, investing for over 70 years, and an appreciative member of 5i since inception. My present objectives include creating capital losses; reducing my formerly 80 stock non-registered portfolio to only those in your Balanced Portfolio; thereby making my life easier so that I do not concern myself each day with fluctuations, and let you make the decisions;etc., I believe I have the following options; 1) Sell all present losers; 2) Henceforth buy or sell only stocks in the Balanced Portfolio 3) Where the 30 day rule applies, buy comparative stocks for the 30 days).. What is your opinion? Do you have better proposals in view of the present crisis? Thank you in advance for your usual consideration and advice.
Read Answer Asked by Harold on March 23, 2020
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