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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: When I try to trade securities listed in Exchanges in Japan, UK, other Europe, bank-owned brokers (RBC-DI and iTRADE) have a hard time giving me a quote. Even if when I get a quote, the have trouble handling my trade. And if they do, the trades incur very high commissions. I understand there are brokers in Canada who do handle international trades, but I do not know who they are.

I am therefore looking for a Japan small-cap ETF of companies that:
- are small or mid-cap (i.e. prefer to avoid the large Japan cartel type orgs); and
- whose sales have a significant export component; and
- which holding a modest number of securities, say 50 or 75 although I suspect I would have to be flexible as to number of holdings given that I am seeking small-caps
- trades in the US or Canada
I skipped currency hedge as requirements (although that would be great)

I have checked online resources but didn’t see ETFs of Japan-based exporters.
I would be thankful if you are able to tell of any ETFs you are able to find.

Read Answer Asked by Adam on November 15, 2017
Q: My allocation to US financials is higher than I had planned at approximately 26 to 28%. I do not HAVE to sell, not having strong ideas where to redeploy. However, subject to your input, I thought it might be prudent to sell or trim. (Selling or trimming would also provide cash reserve in case markets faint-- although 'gathering' dry powder is often counter productive). I ask your input, with reasons, on which of the following financials you would trim or let go entirely:
- WFC ; KIE (US insurance ETF) ; Lloyds Bank London (the ADR listed as LYG)
- KKR; BX (Blackstone)

I read various reports and did research. I didn’t find THAT much that I didn't like in the above. I am hoping you can tell me which ones are likely to show least total return, and why. I’d be grateful for your suggestions supported by your reasoning and any other thoughts you have. Many thanks
Read Answer Asked by Adam on November 15, 2017
Q: I hold several oil and gas exploration & production (E&P) companies. On every one of them I have significant losses, as many people do. I also have two oil refiners: VLO and MPC. I am shocked to see capital gains on both. Do oil refiners not move down when oil prices go down? I didn't see CONSISTENT correlation so I suspect I may be doing something wrong. Thus I seek your insight and deep, deep thoughts. Are both these companies just refineries? Or do they have some exploration and production in their operations ?
Would you continue to hold MPC and VLO ? If you wanted to realize cash for deployment elsewhere, which one (IF ANY) would you sell-- and WHY please.
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Adam on November 15, 2017
Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend-income investor. I normally would describe myself as a "buy and hold" investor, using a "trim and add" strategy that has served me well over the years. I am also aware that one should expect roughly a third of one's stock picks to not work out, although my track record is better than that.

The quandary I am in relates to PEY. Great stock, good management, nice dividend, however poor capital appreciation since I bought in Nov '16. My current allocation to energy is 10% of my equity portfolio. Fortunately PEY has only a small weighting (<2%).

Question 1 = I am down roughly 45% including dividends. We are now in tax loss selling season, so expect some more downside to PEY. I could definitely use the capital loss, to offset significant capital gains this year. Sell now, wait 30 days, rebuy?

Q2 = There is also the "trapped due to no pipeline access" theory...any light to shed on this? If PEY is trapped, is this worth rebuying, until the pipeline issue is remedied? If I wanted to replace PEY with another dividend payer = any suggestions for those that are not "trapped"?

Q3 = I see the average 1 year target price is $27---based on what?

Again, I usually hold for the long term...eventually good stocks work their way through these things...not sure this time. Your thoughts please.

Thanks...Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on November 15, 2017
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