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The RBC Emerging Markets Fund is now available to Canadian investors, RBC Asset Management Inc. announced today.

Phil Langham, senior portfolio manager and head of the emerging markets team for RBC Global Asset Management manages the fund, which focuses on long-term, globally diverse investment strategies aimed to take advantage of opportunities in the emerging markets.

“Our stock selection process focuses on high-quality companies with characteristics such as higher-than-average profitability and stronger balance sheets,” said Langham. “Based on where we are in the current economic and market cycles, we believe this is a compelling time for investors seeking emerging market exposure.”

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Intuit releases tax credit survey results

A new Ipsos Reid survey for Intuit, maker of QuickTax, measures what percentage of residents in Canadian cities plans to claim various tax credits for 2009.

Edmonton ranked number one for investing in their homes last year, with 32% planning to take advantage of the home renovation tax credit. Other cities polled include Ottawa (30%), Winnipeg and Saskatoon (29%), Greater Toronto Area (27%), Calgary (24%), Vancouver (21%), Quebec City (16%) and Montreal (14%).

Edmonton was top of the heap again for the children’s fitness tax credit, with 12% of those surveyed planning to benefit. Calgary was next with 10%; followed by Saskatoon (7%); Vancouver, Ottawa and Halifax (6%); Quebec City (5%); GTA and Winnipeg (5%); and finally Montreal (3%).

On the intellectual side of things, more GTA residents plan to use the tuition tax credit for post-secondary education than any other city surveyed (16%). Saskatoon placed a close second (15%), while Calgary and Quebec City (13%); Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal (12%); Halifax and Ottawa (11%); and Winnipeg (9%) all followed suit.

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CIBC donates $120,00 to prostate cancer research

CIBC is donating $120,000 to the Canadian BRCA 1/2 Prostate Cancer Network, a Prostate Cancer Canada research initiative looking to study how BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations affect prostate cancer rates and severity in Canadian men. These same gene mutations are known to increase risk of breast cancer in women and are believed to do the same for prostate cancer in men, as well an increase the aggressiveness of the disease.

“Many are unaware that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men,” said Richard Nesbitt, chairman and CEO of CIBC’s wholesale banking business and former director of Prostate Cancer Canada. “CIBC has rallied behind this cause and we are proud to support research and education that will help to find a cure for prostate cancer.”

For more information on this and other community initiatives by CIBC, click here.

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RBC Dexia Investor Services examines fund industry in Asia

Regulatory barriers to specific local market entry present difficulties to the fund industry in Asia, a recent poll by RBC Dexia Investor Services says. Of those polled, 85% believed that regulatory barriers were a significant challenge.

More optimistically, 33% believed that the implementation of UCITS IV would make the already popular UCITS more attractive. The majority of respondents, 62%, already offer UCITS funds while 12% intend to do so in the near future.

Third party service has been widely adopted among regional asset managers, with 65% using this practice. 20% did not see the idea of outsourcing non-core functions as an option.

The survey was conducted in Nov. and Dec., 2009 among 34 Asian Pacific find promoters and distributors with assets under management ranging from $500 million to $1.5-to-2 billion.

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BMO: Canadians need tax advice

According to a Bank of Montreal survey, 76% of Canadians do not consider tax implications when they make investments.

The Leger Marketing survey commissioned by BMO Nesbitt Burns also reports that 37% are not confident they are taking advantage of all tax incentives available to them and 89% aren’t aware of how the federal budget impacted their tax situation.

“People have the opportunity to pay less tax if they take the time to understand the basics and seek advice when needed,” said John Waters, manager, tax planning, BMO Nesbitt Burns. “The federal budget introduced measures intended to improve tax fairness. Canadians should take steps to understand these proposed measures to determine any possible implications to their investment strategy.”

(04/19/10)