Investment Q&A

Q: Any thoughts on this fixed income fund? There is also a US version and an Investment Version.
Thanks!

Q: I seem to be noticing a trend over the last few earning seasons (particularly this last quarter and in Canada). If a company’s earnings (and general outlook) surprise to the upside, the stock price may move up a bit but usually not by much. If earnings are in-line with consensus estimates, the stock price might just hold steady but more often drops anyway. If there is a small earnings miss the stock gets severely punished, and on a large miss the reaction is often brutal (i.e down 30%-50% in the following days ex. Amaya). The daily moves that some supposedly steady large cap names can encounter these days on a single piece of news is getting more and more exaggerated. It almost makes me believe that selling an entire portfolio before earnings season and buying back immediately after could make a lot of sense. The downside risk seems to be so much more amplified versus the upside potential when quarterly numbers are released. I would obviously never expect you to endorse such a timing strategy, so my question is simply: 1)Am I imagining this or have you noticed this trend? 2) If this is in fact the case, what are your thoughts on the reasons why and when /what might stop it? Is it just a function of current investor sentiment?

Q: I'm looking to park some cash for 3-6 months. I'm familiar with CLF CBO and XSB and I expect products from other companies will be similar but what are Floating Rate instruments such as notes? What are they and how do they compare is safety to the 1-5 year laddered ETF's? Thanks again Henry

Q: I have heard a number of analysts recommend Europe as a place to invest. Can you recommend some European ETFs and do you think the European market looks interesting?

Q: I would like to add some global exposure to my trading account portfolio. I have short listed 3 ETFs, with XFH and ZEA excluding North America and VXC containing a significant exposure to the US market. I already have exposure to US securities but I would appreciate your perspective on which option may perform best.

Also, would you recommend a hedged or unhedged vehicle at this point.

Recommendations on alternative approaches are also appreciated.

Thank you.

Rossana

Q: Can I have your outlook on CBO for the next year or two.

Thanks

Q: There has been a lot of talk about a housing correction in Canada. I am interested in your views of how this could impact the Canadian stock market and what would be the most vulnerable sectors and stocks? Also, would this tip us into a recession?
Thank you

Q: What will be the impact on WEF with the expiration of the softwood lumber agreement? Thanks
Derek

Q: Could I please have your opinion on what to expect from this ETF over next six months to two years?
Thanks again
Larry

Q: Hi I am taking a position in a S&P 500 ETF through a domestic product. Would you buy a currency hedged ETF or just buy the ETF with no hedge. I guess this is a question about our currency over the next couple years and you outlook on it. Thanks for all the great reading.

Q: Dear 5i

I came across this comment from Otterwood Capital Management today:

"The fundamental event which could initiate a dollar selloff would be an announcement from the International Monetary Fund to include the Chinese Yuan in the SDR basket (see my post here for more details). The last decision was made on November 15th, 2010 so we should expect similar timing for this year’s decision. If included, roughly $1 trillion of global reserves will move into Yuan, largely out of US dollars. The decision would be positive for Chinese risk assets and by default, negative for the US dollar.

The US dollar is at a crossroads and the ongoing consolidation is running out of time. One way or another it will break out of the range and an unanticipated US dollar selloff would lead to significant repositioning and volatility."

This is the second time I have heard about this in a week. I just wanted to get your opinion on this scenario and what, if anything, you would recommend doing (i.e. would this be a good time to sell some US stocks?).

Thanks for your great service.

Q: What effect would there be on bond funds such as XHY, XBB and CBO if the US Federal Reserve went to negative interest rates? I hold all in a registered account.

Q: The Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) will reduce or eliminate barriers on a range of canadian exports,inclyding machines,canola,beef & pork,minerals,forestry products & seafood.It will also allow more foreign dairy into canada & expose workers to cheaper foreign labour. Please advise if TPP will have any material impact on stocks,especially in 5I portfolios.If has,please provide some names that are adversely impacted & some names that are fovourablly affected.Appreciate your usual great advices & services.

Q: Are we seeing early warning signs of more downside to the stock markets given some of the recent bank results. National and CIBC in Canada, HSBC and Deutche Bank come to mind.
If we can legitimately connect the dots between these banking numbers and some of the softer US data numbers and the decision to hold off on interest rate increases might lead one to look for more safe havens if not head for the sidelines for a while.
I would appreciate your assessment of this environment.
Thanks.

Q: Bill Carrigan on Market Call maintained that there was a rotation from Health Care etc. to hard assets--energy in particular. Even though I can't see much of a future for energy or gold, the stocks still seem to be acting like there is a rotation to them while health care and IT are underperforming.
Do you have any observations?

Bryon in Elmira

Q: Hi 5i,

There are a couple of things I don't understand about this recent rally.

It seems to me that it is due to the US potentially slowing down, and hence delaying interest rate increases. If this is true, are we to expect this rally to end soon (since a slower US economy must eventually be bad for stocks) or does this rally have legs?

Also, if the rally is based on delaying interest rate increases why are companies like SunLife rallying. I thought these companies were going to benefit from rate increases so the current environment should be negative for them?

Any help you can give me to clear up my confusion would be appreciated.


Thanks,

Q: Given the trade deal that was signed today would you have any sector-stock selections that could benefit. What would you recommend for a protein stock. sap, hlf, Clearwater or mapleleaf.
Thank you as always.
Chris

Q: Hi, what would you consider appropriate weightings (%) to the following sectors in an all equity portfolio in today's market?

Communications
Consumer Discretionary
Consumer Staples
Energy
Financials
Health Care
Industrials
Materials
Technology
Utilities

Looking to create a more diversified portfolio and seem to struggle on an appropriate weight for each. Thanks!

Q: Hi Peter and team the markets seems to have more worse days than better are we going back to the 2008-2009 days slowly. How bad are things is it a specific underlying problem (China, Recession, US raising rates fear) seems that nothing is making the market turn around? Thanks Nick

Q: Apparently Carl Icahn is shorting the market. Do we need to worry about big bear market? What is your overall strategy? Thank you.