Investment Q&A

Q: Is portfolio balancing different than averaging down? I will be doing my semi-annual portfolio over the next couple of weeks and with the decline of names like MG, MX and TSGI to name a few I suspect I will be a bit underweight in consumer discretionary and materials. I see portfolio balancing as shoring up the laggards and trimming the overweight (winners) but that means buying stocks that are not showing momentum and may even be in continuing decline. So, are these two ideas incompatible and if so, what is the "proper" way to rebalance?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: With all signs pointing to a long US/China trade spat, what sectors do you see holding their own. I would expect that Tech and Consumer Products will be hurt the most. Your comments would be appreciated.

Q: I was expecting Armageddon/ volatility in the markets with no China deal and more tariffs and China retaliation. What gives? At some point this is going to impact earnings, jobs, etc. In fact the market has risen, what do you make of it?

Q: Hello,
What are the US and Canadian stocks which are looking more attractive due to the tarrif war. I bought TTD and SQ..on the drop. Can you suggest any others. Also can you give your assessment do you think this increased volatility is a temporary phenomenon.Thanks.

Shyam

Q: Peter and those surrounding - as someone with 25% cash due to recent trimming I'm wondering 1. whether you believe the downside is close to bottom or not 2. whether you would wait for further clarity before redeploying 3. whether you would redeploy the growth names on my buy list first (down more) or stay conservative with more stable lower valuation equities being re-purchased first and 4. any general remarks you might offer at this rather confusing moment in the markets. Thanks as always - Ken

Q: From what I am reading it appears that it is no longer expected that interest rates may raise in the next year but may even decrease. Is this your take?

Q: I am interested in what your general guidelines for sector percentage allocations would be at this time and looking forward in 2019. We are retired with pensions ,investments in registered accounts and a balanced approach investor. Second question-your recommendation re percentage allocation Canada/US investment. Thank you for your assistance.

Q: I almost only read questions related to my specific companies. So may be I have not look in the right place. My question is at this time in the Market cycle, would you recommend allocation changes and also increase cash somewhat?

Q: The coming US elections are approaching (2020)
The democrats are NOT pro big business and some candidates are voicing their opinions about breaking up and placing regulation on big tech. This could be considered to be just noise however I am old enough to remember the industry break ups of the past. Question: Is it time to exercise a little caution here and await the election outcome or go along with the apparent belief that Google, Amazon etc. are the way of the future with unlimited potential growth?

Q: With the current US $ exchange rates I don't think its a great time to buy US equities with Canadian dollars. Your thoughts?

Q: Hi, a follow up to my last question, were there any periods where the yield curve inverted in the last 20 years, but didn't lead to a recession? Do you by chance have the dates or chart on that?

Q: I haven't been following the politics too closely but it doesn't look like the British can figure out a plan/agreement for leaving the EU. What impact do you see a no-deal exit having on the market? Since everything has basically gone up a lot since Dec.24th, I'm worried that even a fart from Europe will stink up the whole market. Thoughts? By way of background, my investing horizon is short term.

Q: Many of the analysts appearing on BNN seem cautionary about the market and suggest investors hold some cash in their portfolios.
In my opinion at the present time of the three 5I portfolios, the Finance portfolio is the most attractive and offers some very decent dividends. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill

Q: Could you please explain how falling, 5, 10, & 20 US Treasury Bond Yields indicate a slowing economy and an increase in deflationary pressures?
Thank you.

Q: Inverted yield curve(US 3mo higher than 10yr interest rate).2 great views by Ryan on BNN on 3/29 & Peter in The Van Sun,3/30. My observations.1)As at 8pm pst 3/31 10yr is higher than 3m (2.439 vs 2.408) 2)A popular yield curve is 2yr & 10yr(2.294 is lower than 2.439).3)This will help the big 6 can banks as pointed out by 5I as they borrow short & lend long(better interest margins.Ryannyou were great on BNN Thanks for u usual great services & views

Q: My question relates to asset balance. I have recently retired and am in the process of de-risking my portfolio. That said, I'm also mindful of the dangers of investing too conservatively and outliving my investments. Given I am 60 with a good defined benefit pension, roughly what percentage of my portfolio would you suggest be skewed toward blue chip growth stocks (eg. GOOG, AMZN) vs. income stocks with limited growth potential (eg. AQN, PPL, FSZ)? Thank you.

Q: Hi Guys
What is your opinion with respect to the possibility of a recession in the near term and how severe would the stock market impact be in your view. I have had money sitting on the sideline for months expecting the worst and other than December not much has happened. Your comments please.
Many thxs.

Q: Your comments please, on the following article in Reuters today with respect to a forthcoming recession once the yield curve inverts? Personally equities in general appear to be fully valued today and i'm reluctant to add cash to this market.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The spread between three-month Treasury bills and 10-year note yields inverted on Friday for the first time since 2007 after U.S. manufacturing data missed estimates.

The three-month 10-year yield spread, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of the yield curve, narrowed to minus 0.56 basis points. An inverted yield curve is widely understood to be a leading indicator of recession.

The Market Purchasing Managers’ Index report, which tracks activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector, on Friday disappointed investors, with the headline index down 0.5 percent to 52.5 versus the expected 53.6. Earlier, Germany reported that domestic manufacturing contracted further in March, driving the benchmark 10-year U.S. government bond below zero and adding to fears of a global slowdown in growth.

The soft data exacerbated a trend that began on Wednesday after the Fed issued a statement showing policymakers foresaw no further rate hikes for 2019 given the slowdown in the American economy.

“The reality is the market is now expecting lower rates on average over the next 10 years than we have currently. And it’s a combination both of a dovish Fed and also ongoing global growth concerns,” said Jon Hill, U.S. rates strategist at BMO Capital Markets.

Q: I am close to retirement and have about 2/3 of my total portfolio in a corporate taxable account. All are equities with 53% Can, 39% US, 2.5% EM and 6% cash.
What could you suggest to recession proof and at the same time be tax friendly to help mitigate my risk given the aggressive 94 % equity holdings?
The other personal 1/3, of which 20% is in a non registered account, comprised of RRSP/LIRA/TFSA has about 33% fixed income.
Thanks
Jeff

Q: It seems to me that there are straws in the wind of a coming recession (inverting yield curve, global growth warnings, trade wars, Brexit hits, etc.). Would you agree with this hypothesis? What assets would you recommend for building a more recession proof portfolio? Should we leave stocks almost entirely and go to bonds? I have no real recession plan yet feel I need one. Any help is, as always, appreciated.