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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: What conditions in Canada would need to change to cause a significant upward trend in the Canadian dollar? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by BRYAN on August 20, 2019
Q: I receive a e-mail lattely to sell Alcanna, dhigh Artic Energy and Versabank that are part of the Growth Portfolio. Theses names are part of the grow portfolio, and when I look at the Growth model Portfolio, the name are still there. Any reason why?
Read Answer Asked by Martin on August 19, 2019
Q: Market Outlook

I realize that I am asking for an opinion and will take it that way.

I have some cash that could be invested, but am not sure when to buy in. (financial sector is what interests me the most.)

Based on your decades of experience how would you decide on when the present down ward slide is near bottom. Please provide your top 5 indicators that there is "blood in the street" and could be a time for buying.

thanks

Ernie
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on August 16, 2019
Q: Do you have any advice for buying stocks one likes during a sell off? I tend to divide up my cash into about five amounts and buy gradually after the first bounce following a big sell off, like we had yesterday on the S&P 500. I also look at futures and European exchanges to see what might be coming at us next. Some Portfolio managers recommend buying when the ten day moving average of the index turns up. However they then go on to say nobody can predict a market bottom. I also read that stocks which bounce most strongly are the ones to go for as they are the companies everyone wants to own. Any insight welcome.
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on August 16, 2019
Q: Can you explain how an investor can get a negative yield on a bond? For instance German 10 year bonds have a negative yield. Does that mean that there is a premium paid on the price say 102.00 and investor receives 100.00 at maturity. Does the investor receive semi-annual coupons like other bonds? Are the coupons more than 0.00 or are they negative also? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on August 15, 2019
Q: In your experience, please name a few analysts/brokerages whom you would consider fairly reliable in terms of stock recommendations, ratings, price targets, etc. in both Canada and the US.

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by K on August 15, 2019
Q: Hello 5i
Going fishing here ... You've provided a coverage drop list ... will we soon see a coverage update containing additions in the near future, perhaps in response to this email?

Curious,
Mike

Read Answer Asked by mike on August 15, 2019
Q: What’s is your opinion of a SPAC ?
Thanks
Rick
Read Answer Asked by Richard on August 14, 2019
Q: Hi, Does the market price movement following the announcement of secondary issues, influence the determination of offering price, or companies usually base it on the closing price at the time of the NR ? LSPD closed at $47.75 before the issue was announced and has dropped to $40 in 2 days. The issue is still open at many brokerages. Any comments/insight, please. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by rajeev on August 14, 2019
Q: #1. Are there any key indicators that would suggest a recession ?
#2. Would it be a good idea for an investor to get out of the market and buy back in later, thinking there will be a recession soon and a downward stock market.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on August 14, 2019
Q: I have been rebalancing my portfolio over the past six months, reducing financials and energy and increasing utilities, telecoms, and US technologies ( all in companies you have been positive towards). I remain overweight financials, with Canadian Banks and insurers. I do have a very long term horizon, say 25 years, so if history and my nerve holds, my wife and I should have the desired dividend stream and a decent shot a capital gains over time. However, after reading yet another “we’re all gonna die” column from Dave Rosenberg, it made me wonder if I shouldn’t continue my shift and sell down more financials and increase in sectors with strong dividends that might better weather the storms that may or may not be imminent. What are your thoughts?
As always, I value your opinions. Thank. You.
Read Answer Asked by alex on August 13, 2019
Q: Is there some sort of Norbert's Gambit for converting Cdn$ to Euro's. Tx
Read Answer Asked by John on August 12, 2019
Q: Hi Peter,
Is a reverse mortgage a good idea for someone who is 65 years old+, and what should one know before he/she goes ahead with one.
Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Terry D. on August 12, 2019
Q: I read with great concern in this weekend's National Post, David Rosenberg's article entitled "10 Reasons to take risk off the table right now". He makes ten legitimate reasons to do so. I would appreciate 5I's opinion of the article and his supporting logic. My high risk equities are WEF, NFI, TSGI, MX, COV and VET.
Carl.
Read Answer Asked by Carl on August 12, 2019
Q: My question is about US/Cdn exchange rates. If I go to my bank as I understand it, I pay 2.5% on top of the exchange rate when both buying or selling U.S. dollars (I do pay less than 2.5% on my online brokerage account, though). This 2.5% fee results in a different final exchange rate depending on whether I am buying or selling U.S. dollars.

So my first question is, in an etf like VGG which is denominated in Cdn dollars but invests in U.S equities, when they apply the exchange rate to show the unit value in CDN does it include this 2.5% fee? Or is this 2.5% fee not applied?

My next question is related to the first one. You recently answered a question describing an (apparently) cheaper way to convert dollars between US and Can. As I understood it, if you want to convert USD to CDN, buy a non-volatile Canadian stock that trades on a US exchange with your USD, then phone your online broker and ask them to "journal" the stock to the Canadian exchange, and once they do that you can sell it for CDN. So the question is, does this avoid the 2.5% fee? (I would think it must, otherwise why not just go to the bank and change your money.)

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by William on August 12, 2019
Q: David Rosenberg is once again talking of a doomsday secenario. Whether he is right or wrong, I have a feeling a recession is due and it is all about timing. I know you have previously fielded questions regarding taking a defensive stance for protection against a recession but I am wondering where long trem bonds fit into this story. Is an investment in Long Term Bonds a good strategy in this case and if so, how does one make such an investment and what percentage of a balanced portfolio would you dedicate to long term bonds?
Read Answer Asked by Michael on August 12, 2019
Q: How do you select th 70 companied that you cover?
Read Answer Asked by Carl on August 09, 2019