Investment Q&A

Q: RE purchasing US treasuries

Hello 5i,
Once or twice I have tried to purchase bonds from my discount broker RBC direct investing. The process to purchase is fairly easy (you will face a hit up front on the bond price compared to the open market). However, when selling a bond or treasury that's when a DIY investor is really at a loss. You call up RBC and then the agent will consult the "manager in the bond department" and they will decide on a price they will give you for the asset you wish to sell. Kind of like a car dealership! It truly is a grey market where your discount broker has all the control of the sale of that fixed asset. Also, if looking at treasuries, you must commit to $10k USD and can't buy, for example in smaller increments, like I wish to do for a family member in a conservative TFSA.

IS there an ETF suggestion for a 10, 20 30 year treasury in USD? Not what i really want, but will mirror the moves in this market, I suppose? TLT is the 20 year. What is the 10 year, 30 year?

Also, can you confirm that the interest paid on the treasury would be tax exempt if held in a TFSA? If tax on interest is exempt in a TFSA, would it still be exempt if one holds the ETF and not the treasury itself?

Q: I currently have positions in HYG ( a bit underwater but no reason to sell) and am considering switching HYG for TLT. The current yield is lower, it seems, but the chances for a long term gain look more inviting. Your thoughts on TLT would be much appreciated. Good idea to switch?

All the best

al

Q: Recently I asked a question on HBND. Could 5i give me a similar analysis on HPYT ? As well as comparison of the different structures between the two . The only one I am aware of is the 50% position of HBND that is not covered calls . Not sure what the situation is with HYPT ..... The yield on the two is considerably different with the former yielding 10% and the latter 15% ...... Please compare what you would suspect would happen differently with each under rising/stagnant/falling interest rates ?..... Thanks Garth

Q: I am looking for $US-denominated ETFs to hold within my RRSP/RRIF. I would be interested in both shorter and longer-term names. When I review the questions you have answered and the company's literature, it is not clear if the bonds pay US dollars or are simply US bonds bought in Canadian dollars.

I am assuming that any ETFs that fit my criteria would not result in US taxes being paid as long as they are held directly in my registered accounts. If this is not the case, please suggest ways to ensure no taxes are withheld at source.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Good Morning ,

Could we have your opinion on this new listing from Harvest. Also do you see their risk evaluation as accurate (medium-low). Thank you.

Q: Hello 5i, common question for you but I have very little bond exposure and was looking to start building a fixed income portfolio. Can you give me your current top 5 bond picks (assuming ETF's). This can be USA or Canada bonds.

Q: Hello there

I'm looking for a US bond fund (USD is fine) for a registered account. I'm fine with high quality corporate bond funds or gov't whichever you consider optimal. Which do you suggest are worth considering? thanks al

Q: Could you give me some examples of the "Fat Coupon Bonds" that David Roseberg" referred to on BNN yesterday?
Could MTF be included? Thanks, JAMES

Q: hi,
can I get your opinion on the Aug. 9th Globe and Mail article by David Rosenberg and Bhawana Chhabra, "...It's time for investors to revisit their asset mix." And are you able to provide a few Canadian dollar ETF's to buy ( US treasury index? other? ), if you would in fact recommend that?
thanks, Chris

Q: I hold some TLT and have obviously entered into too early. But I am prepared to be patient.
My question is more about the Billionaire Ackman article last week where he states he is shorting the 30 year treasuries. Now, is he doing that simply because he feels the it will be a long time before the Feds actually start lowering rates or, is there something else out there that I do not understand about long treasuries?

Q: Good morning,

With bond rates moving higher can you suggest your top 3 bond etf's to gain exposure at a low cost. Would holding these in a registered or cash account be best? As always thank you for your time

Q: Supposing that an investor had three registered accounts of roughly equal size that they wanted to change from equity ETF's to a fixed income allocation for their portfolio, and these accounts would have to be converted to RIF's in 6 years. Let's also assume that we get one or two more small rate hikes this year, then interest rates flatten and begin to come down slowly over the following several years. Which of three options would you choose on a risk/reward basis? 1. Just hold money market funds currently paying 4.5%+ 2. Barbell XSB and XLB using two accounts, and put XBB (or ZAG) in the third (avg. yield close to 3 %? with potential cap. gains) 3. Put TLT in all three, yield close to 3%? maybe highest potential cap. gain? With the BOC policy rate going up close to 5 points since the start of 2022 the bond funds above fell anywhere from 10%+ to 30%+. Does that imply that if the BOC rate went back down 2.5% that they would rise 5%+ to 15%+, or you can't make that kind of straight line assumption? Maybe there is a way better option, but I don't really want to tie up funds in GIC's and don't want to try to pick individual bonds either. I also considered something like PSA but no cap gain upside there and the money markets probably pay as much interest or more. Thanks for your thoughts.

Q: I noticed in your disclosure you have an interest in TLT, I hold ZTL which I assume is comparable?

Horizons Seasonal Rotation ETF as of May 31, 2023 has 75% in 0-3 month T-bills & 6% in 7-10 years with no exposure beyond that.

Could you help me understand the risk/reward difference between the ultra-short term and ultra-long term T-bills and which I would be better with in todays market and assumption interest rates may have peaked, or should I cover both ends?

Q: Today the US Fed announced a pause in its rate hikes however stating the next move will be up. Looking back in history I see that 90% of the time a pause in the fed rate is followed by a reduction in rates and not an increase. If history repeats itself I'm thinking bonds should start to increase in price. To take advantage, if my thinking is correct, should I hold short, medium or long bonds. I have held BLV for some time now and am in a loss position but am thinking of adding a wee bit more.

Appreciate any comments you have.

Q: Hello 5i
We currently hold CBO, CLF & XRB at 25/25/50% all as long term holdings in a slight loss position. I believe we are currently at (or very near) peak interest rates. Do you have any suggestions to bond replacements that might be better positioned to capture rate reductions for these holdings. (not accounting for the bonus of tax loss selling)
Again many thanks
Les

Q: If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, how do you think it will impact the price of TLT and XLB? Thank you.

Q: I am trying to understand what seems to me as unusual volatility in treasuries recently - especially Monday. Has this sort of thing happened in the past ?

Q: David Rosenberg has recommended a mix split nearly evenly among long-dated US treasuries, high-yield bond and high-paying dividend stocks for investors seeking a favourable return with reduced overall volatility. My questions are:
1) are long-dated US treasuries the same as bonds?
2) how long would you go?
3)could you recommend a long-dated US treasury ETF and a high-yield bond?
thanks

Q: Could you make a case for each of these two Treasury ETF's ? Would you favour one over the other ?

Do you prefer other Treasury ETF's to these two ?

Q: Rick Rieder from Blackrock posted that fixed income is setting up for generational returns. Also "on a relative valuation basis, stocks cannot be considered the cheaper asset". Would you agree that its shaping up to be a big opportunity to buy fixed assets, and if so what tops your list? Thx