Investment Q&A

Q: I notice that you are getting questions about what to buy when the market settles and it seems people are expecting this to happen soon. But isn't this something that could take a year or two, as closing plants down,people not travelling and buying things will reduce earnings and put us into a recession?

Q: I know you don't know where the bottom is in this market meltdown (I wish you did and could tell us - am I the only one owning stocks right now?), but do you have an idea on what the conditions will look like that will stop the meltdown? In your opinion, is this really all corona virus oriented or are there some other forces at play here, and if so what might they be?

Q: North American markets have had a great run the past two years and now it looks like we are in for a prolonged period of selling, especially given that the corvid 19 virus is not a "one off" event but a protracted worry and uncertainty exacerbated by disinformation on social media. The markets were long overdue for such a correction. For the meantime, I have gone to cash in registered and non-registered accounts and bought inverse etfs like HQD (2X Nasdaq bear), HXD (2X SPX60), and HUV (volatility index) to continue making modest gains during the downturn (instead of losing money!). Are there any other defensive (inverse) etfs you could recommend?

Q: I wonder if I could get you to speculate what impact Bernie Sanders being elected President might have on the markets. And how one might adjust a portfolio in response/anticipation of such an event. For example, I imagine there could be a major impact on health care stocks.

Q: What do you think is the motivation behind Trumps proposed tax incentive to buy equities and what would be the ramifications for investors should it happen?

Q: The US is having some issue, China is having major issues affecting world economy and Canada in particular is struggling to resolve transportation (and therefore market) issues.
Do you have a general outlook on where the market is headed and should I be cautious and keep a larger cash balance? If so, when do you anticipate a clearer outlook?
Thank you.

Q: Hi 5i,

The recent run up is starting to make me a little nervous.

Everything else being equal, is this a time to think about reducing weightings in something like an SP500 or other broad market ETF and perhaps move to something more defensive?

Thanks

Q: I think the market is too complacent of the effects of the coronavirus. China is arguably the largest industrial manufacturer in the world and it has been all but shut down for the past month. I spoke to a friend whose company has a factory in China and event though it is not near the province where the virus has started, the factory is at low productivity because of worker fear and reliance on parts from other factories that are directly effected. If this were happening in North America, the markets would have sold off.

Q: Pro shares -SSO
DO you think this is too risky for average investor? Any way to protect downside risk?

Q: For the US market in 2020 in general what is the probability of having a 5% correction? A 10% correction? A 15 % correction? Or a 20% or more correction?
Clayton

Q: Hey Peter & Team,
Interesting day in the market. Sizable drops across the board and around the world. I am sure there are some that will look to this as "the" excuse to panic and sell thinking a big correction is sure to follow. From what I can tell, this is not a bubble market such as the Mortgage Crisis or .COM tumble. Fundamentals seem strong in the solid companies, and unless you are invested in risky might-go-way-up-might-go-way-down companies everything will be fine.

Have you and your team come up with any thoughts on what's going on? Should we be concerned about what effect the beervirus (coronavisrus) fears might have on our investments? Or do you see this as the normal week-to-week month-to-month ups and downs that self directed investors such as ourselves should continue learning how to be comfortable with.

Thanks for all you do

gm

Q: There is a 1st death in Beijing. Do you think we should remain fully invested or is it time to start taking some risk off the table? During Ebola, I remained invested, but this time, the market hasn't stopped going up for a while and expectations are high. If you are not worried, what would be a new development with the coronovirus that does change fundamentals for the market?

Q: Hi, can you explain the connection between the Coronavirus and the markets? I’m watching stocks like Photon, Nvidia, and Xpel get hammered (xpel the worst at 12% - I’ve already taken profits so I’m only on house money there at least). I just don’t really understand why people getting sick has such an effect. I’m not trying to be cold, just trying to understand and learn if there’s a way to hedge against it.

Thanks

Q: I am interested in the investment implications of the coronavirus, should it spread similar to SARS or worse. Specifically, when SARS occurred, what was the impact on global markets? What markets did well, and what markets did poorly? Was there a movement towards cash, bonds or gold?

Thank you for this wonderful service!

Q: It appears that the corona virus is continuing to affect the world markets...
I realize that it is still very early in the developing story but what kind of affect did previous health situations have on the U.S. and Canadian market place???
Ed in Montreal

Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend-income investor who is normally fully invested with a "buy-and-hold, but trim-add around core positions" strategy.
I currently have 2% in investable cash, with my portfolio set up exactly where I want it now...good asset allocation both via sectors and via individual position sizes.

However, I am also looking at the macro picture and things seem to be going parabolic. I am contemplating trimming to increase my cash position from 2% up to 5%. I understand in the past you have indicated that the key things to watch are interest rates are unemployment. They are both low, so "let it ride". So, what to do...let it ride vs trim? I know this amounts to market timing, which I know you are not fond of and, coincidentally, I am lousy at.

In your past life, as a fund manager, when did you raise or invest your available cash and what factors pushed you to do something or to just sit on your hands?

Thanks...sitting on my hands for now...Steve

Q: Interest rates. I use the theme that interest rates will show where the country is in the business cycle. At this time interest rates will be declining or will be stable rather than rising. Therefore the chances of a recession are very low to low.
I would appreciate your opinion.
Clayton

Q: We’re do you see the Canadian dollar in relation to the US dollar this year? Weakening, same as it is today or strengthening? Also would it be stable or with volatility?
Clayton

Q: Reviewing the issue of asset allocation and I must say that I have been avoiding bonds. The ETF approach interests me, but when to by is a mystery, re; haven"t seen bond gains lately. Appreciate any clarification you can provide & thanks!

Q: I am in my early 30’s. In terms of creating a strategy for buying and selling stocks shouldn’t I just always be buying stocks, even if the market goes down?

If I have a 30-year run way until I start withdrawing or using the funds wouldn’t it be best to just find great companies to average into?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated in advance.

Thanks,

Dave