Investment Q&A

Q: I feel this is a dumb unintelligent question but have wanted to ask it several times in my life to someone who might be able to explain - On days like the past few where markets drop for no apparent reason, across the board, where does the money that is pulled typically get parked or allocated? I mean I look at my otherwise balanced portfolio and see maybe a 3-4% down in almost everything. Is it the big institutional investors that that get "sell" signals and then start the downward trend and then rebuy, placing money in cash short term? I mean I wish I had done that last Friday, but just curious. - Cheers.

Q: I am trying to decipher rules at various brokerages re: forex charges. I have a $C RSP at CIBC and recently made two $US trades on the same day. I was charged for the full value of the trades both buying and selling rather than on the net amount. Is that the normal practice? Seems like somewhat of a ripoff.
Thanks for your reply.
Larry

Q: I purchased MDA in August ($80x200sh) and it's done some sideways action since then, with the exception of the last few days where it's flirting with the $75 mark. On Friday, I purchased $30,000 of it in my margin account. I know you've rated it as a A- stock, but I'm wondering whether the interest charge and sudden decline is worth the risk.
Could it signify a "leak" like HNL?
I'm wondering if I should just sell before there's any further decline.
Your comments please...

Q: Hi...based on the current "readjustment" in the market..what four stocks would you add to at the current positions...based on what you consider a buying opportunity...

Thanks again!!

Q: Hi Peter and hard working team;
I am experiencing some anxiety over my investments in Counsel Corp (CXS), and Lonetar (LSI). Lonestar is being particularly nasty to shareholders. Do you feel any compelling reason to bail out into a model portfolio stock.
Thank you.

Q: Peter and Team,

Is Badger really dropping 4+% today based on their announcement today. When read the announcement, it seems to me that they are just rearranging their debts a bit. Am I missing something?

Q: Hi
CMI continues to fall.
It`s chart looks terrible and as of now its sitting at its 200 day moving average.
As a stock it does not look very healthy.
Do you think it is a small cap stock being dumped because of market uncertainties?

Thanks
Hersh

Q: Good morning 5i,

In the last couple of trading days Methanex (MX) has been trading down. Is there a reason for that?

Thanks

Paul

Q: This morning in a response to Paul, you recommended corporate bond ETFs for the bond portion of a portfolio. It seems to me corporate bonds are very closely correlated to equities so I'm wondering about the rationale. True that the bonds are less volatile but when equities tumble, so do the corporates.

Q: PHM

Could I please have the consensus estimates for Q1 revenue and eps?

Thanks,
Sandy

Q: My cost on HNL is $6.15. It is trading today at $7.03, still some profit there but nothing like it was. Is this company done or is there more upside after this settles down. Can management be trusted? Is the dividend safe? I am a longterm investor and will hang on if it is worth it.

Thank you for the wonderful service that you provide.

Q: Further to HNL, very simply, for those who own the stock, sell / switch to something else, or hold? Thanks.

Q: HNL sure smells bad with todays warning and last week's decline. Do you see this as indiciative of future problems that warrant selling the stock? Or is this a buying opportunity?

Thanks,

Q: A comment for people setting up a new account:
If you have a small amount of money, Qtrade and Scotia Itrade each have 60 commission free ETFs. Qtrade 's include more US and more Vanguard funds than Itrade.

John

Q: This isn't a question but to point out to members who invest in mutual funds that they can buy some class F mutual funds or get rebated most of the trailer fees from Questrade. I cannot understand why discount brokers collect trailer fees when they are providing no advice? Questrade also charges commission on ETFs only when you sell them but not when you buy them, this allows investors to buy ETFs on smaller increments as they built their portfolio of ETFs.

Q: Just a further question/comment on the news from HNL. Over the past few days, before the announcement, the stock has been heading significantly lower. While it all could be a coincidence, it smells like that this information was leaked or there was some insiders were dumping their shares before today's announcement. Thoughts ?

Q: Hi Peter,

I would like to hear your thoughts on Concordia Healthcare corp (TSE:CXR), a new listing on the TSX. Do you know any of the management or former entities that merged to create Concordia?

Thanks!

Q: Hi Peter & Co.

My question is about the advantages and disadvantages of buying the same ETF's in different forms. My example would be using the Vanguard Fund ETF's symbol VGG, VGH and VIG. VGG is a Canadian ETF sold on the TSX in $Cdn whose sole holding is VIG, a US$ ETF that you have recommended on many occasions. VGH is also sold on the TSX and is $Cdn Hedged., it's sole holding is also the US VIG. Is it advantageous to buy VGG in $Cdn and own VIG indirectly or is it better to buy VIG on the US exchange in a $US account. What is the advantage or disadvantage of each route to buying and holding VIG?
Many thanks for a wonderful service.

Bill

Q: Could you please comment on bond ETF's as an addition to GIC's in the fixed income side of my portfolio. I am 66, retired, with a small company pension. Currently I hold 33.33% in Canadian dividend paying equities, and 66.67% in GIC's and cash. Last year I sold my bond ETF's (CBO and ZHY) on a recommendation from your team. I'm glad I did, as they both declined markedly throughout last summer. However, with inflation projected to remain stagnant through 2016 and interest rates more likely to decline than increase, are bond ETF's worth re-purchasing at this point, both for income and capital preservation? They have recovered sharply over the past couple of months. And, if so, would you stick to Laddered Corporates and/or high yield Corporates, or would you recommend another approach? I continue to favour 5-year laddered corporates (CBO) and High Yield U.S. Corporates (ZHY). Thanks for your expertise.

Q: I have a small position in PME which is currently trading at my cost.Could you please give an update on the stock and the near term for the price of gold.
Thank you, Bob.