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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: Peter; The perennial “ bear”, aka Rosenberg, basically just trashed the BOC last rate bump, saying the 2% level , they want is there. Could you comment on whether you agree or don’t and why ? Thanks.
Rod (;Publish if you wish) .
Read Answer Asked by Rodney on July 21, 2023
Q: My portfolio is recovering well, but still down about 5% down from its high because of the small caps that I own. They are all cheap and profitable companies, but some are still down 50%. If we go into recession will they crash? How should I deal with these companies? Should I be taking losses now to protect from future losses? I just don't understand the market right now because usually small caps are the first to recover. My original plan was to sell 1/2 after they recovered but that isn't happening.
Read Answer Asked by Pamela on July 19, 2023
Q: What evidence is there that the rise in interest rates have been the reason why inflation has declined?
Read Answer Asked by Murray on July 11, 2023
Q: In many questions asked there seems to be some expectation that interest rates will go down at some point in the relative near future. Do you think this is a valid expectation? Employment remains strong; housing market prices are holding; with some limited exceptions we have not seen significant layoffs…. Why would the Bank of Canada reduce rates anytime soon? I suggest that we had such low rates for so long, people expect that to be the new norm. We are only now
approaching the level of rates that were ‘normal’ for a very long time. What am I missing?
Read Answer Asked by Mark on July 11, 2023
Q: your thoughts on Bitcoin? Not that they are right but it seems many huge asset managers are becoming interested again. For now, I believe Bitcoin is a store of value and is yet to make the tranition to unit of account. In terms of asset allocation, would it make sense to allocate a small percentage of one's portfolio 'in case it catches on'? Do you see an asymmetric upside vs limited downside and would that not justify a small position?
Read Answer Asked by Neelesh on July 10, 2023
Q: I hold a significant percentage of my portfolio in XEC and am happy to have the exposure to add diversification. It has been a bit of a drag on returns for a while now however, and it has me wondering — what are some plausible scenarios moving forward where emerging will outperform? Have there been significant episodes in the past 100 years or so where emerging was at the top of the index return lists?
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on July 06, 2023
Q: Would a concentrated portfolio of 10stocks made up of large cap companies regarded as compounders from 5 sectors provide adequate diversification for a RESP ? If not, could you suggest a minimal modification to add diversification?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 04, 2023
Q: What gains should an investor expect if they are in the markets for decades. Assuming they have a diversified portfolio. Clayton
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on July 04, 2023
Q: Is the 'cardboard' metric a real thing? When cardboard sales dip, it is a precursor to an economic slowdown?
Read Answer Asked by Gregory on June 29, 2023
Q: Hi Peter, My question is about returns in the S&P during a four year Presidents term. On average what are the markets (ie S&P 500 ) return in year 1 vs year 2 vs year 3 vs year 4. I heard an analyst mention that the best returns come in year 3. Can you confirm the returns by year. I appreciate the great service.
Read Answer Asked by Frank on June 28, 2023
Q: When lookking at the ROI over 3-5-10 years. The S&P has always done better than the others. When looking at the strength of their economy and the investment that US companies put in R&D how are they gonna loose their 1st position as a super economy power? and foremost and this is the question: Why invest elsewhere? Canada with merely 5% of the world economy? Europe has been lagging since I started investing 40 years ago where else? China? gotta be kidding. Seriously why spread our investments worldwide when the best is our neibours? Just buy the S&P and wait still forever.

Thanks

Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on June 26, 2023
Q: hi, portfolio analytics says I am underweight basic materials, consumer defensive, healthcare and industrials. can you provide a few Canadian and US equities in each category, that you would consider for medium to long term investment.
cheers, chris ( take as many credits as you need ).
further, I am overweight in utilities ( 18.6% of total holdings ) and financials ( 25.5 %). do you recommend trimming these 2 sectors? and in financials I own BN and BAM ( which I would suspect actually have cross-over with other sectors? )??
cheers, chris
Read Answer Asked by chris on June 23, 2023
Q: US stock market almost recovered after a stunning run lately. The Canadian market is apparently still recovering. Do you think there is a rotation that will be going on, e.g. Canadian stock market, or non-AI stocks? I am wondering whether there are some Canadian stocks that may be benefit from the rotations that we can invest now?
Read Answer Asked by Yiwen on June 22, 2023
Q: Dear 5i,
At a high level with respect to Canadian stocks.
Which sectors are the most sensitive to interest rate changes?
For the ones you identify can you please suggest how they might react
when rates go up or down?
Read Answer Asked by Ian on June 21, 2023
Q: How long do you think before AI starts changing things for companies? Where do you think we will see the first impact and what type of companies will be affected long range. I know this is a crystal ball question but your opinion of the future of AI and how we should prepare is highly valued.
Read Answer Asked by Jean on June 20, 2023
Q: How do you feel about margin usage in the context of the current rate environment? Do you believe it still has a place for risk-tolerant investors, especially considering potential tax write-offs? Or do you think the potential risk/reward is simply not palatable at the moment? If the latter, what are some effective ways to reduce margin exposure without being forced to sell assets or unbalance a portfolio?
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on June 12, 2023
Q: Ray Dalio says US is at beginning of late Big-Cycle Debt crisis. What is your opinion on this and can you please explain what this would mean. Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Neil on June 12, 2023
Q: Not sure if this is within the scope of your service, but can you explain why a country like Japan with a huge amount of debt-to-GDP has not had a collapse of it's currency from YCC or huge inflation? How is it that increased debt has let to deflation? I've heard some reasons over the years but none that make sense.

The reason to ask is our Canadian, European and US governments also have a huge debt burden, increasing interest payments on this debt and a continuing increase in debt over the foreseeable future. How could any rational investor have confidence in this debt/credit based system? Will we turn Japanese? (to quote the Vapor's song!) What factors would push us into deflation vs inflation?

Read Answer Asked by Neelesh on June 08, 2023
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