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(October 26, 2006) The Canadian Investment Awards has released the list of analysts and jurors for their 2006 awards, which will be presented November 30.

“Our recurring event theme — ‘Recognizing Long-Term Investing’ — reflects a long-term perspective, and it is fitting that the members of our juries have long-term commitment and knowledge of this industry,” said Sabine Steinbrecher, president, Canadian Investment Awards Inc. “We take great care in our selection process and the expert opinions and analysis of our team of dedicated jurors are what build the prestige of the Canadian Investment Awards each year. I want to personally thank them for their time.”

The juries select winners based on rigorous criteria, including qualitative and quantitative data. Awards are available in a wide range of categories, including the Analysts’ Choice Award, the Income Trust Fund Award, the Pooled Fund Award, Best New Initiative, and Best Use of Technology, to name just a few.

Among the many luminaries on the various panels, The ADVISOR Group’s own Scot Blythe is on the jury for the hedge funds category. That panel is chaired by another name familiar to our readers, Pierre Saint-Laurent, president, AssetCounsel Inc. Rounding out this jury are Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates, and Peter Loach, vice-president and managing director, investment fund research, BMO Nesbitt Burns.

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Claymore launches oil sands ETF

(October 26, 2006) Claymore Investments has announced the launch of a new ETF to trade on the TSX, offering investors exposure to companies operating in the Canadian oil sands.

Claymore Oil Sands Sector ETF begins trading October 26, under the ticker symbol CLO. It will be offered in two classes of units, the Common Unit and Advisor Class Unit.

“The ETF tracks the Sustainable Wealth Oil Sands Index, which has been designed to provide a focused investment into the oil sands sector,” said Som Seif, president and CEO of Claymore Investments. “The Index uses a fundamental and strategy approach to the sector, weighting constituents based on their current oil sands production, future expected growth in oil sands production and a percentage of total company production which is oil-sands related.”

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AIG beefs up sales division

(October 26, 2006) AIG Life of Canada has announced the appointment of Jack Tavares as executive vice-president and head of individual operations. All departments within the division will report to Tavares either directly or on a matrix basis.

Tavares has already named Daniel Dessureault as vice-president of sales. Most recently, Dessureault was general manager of Equinox Financial Services and, prior to that, held executive sales and marketing positions with Maritime Life.

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Acuity launches two global funds, one resource fund

(October 26, 2006) Acuity Funds has launched three new mandates, targeting investor demand for income generation as well as natural resource exposure.

The Acuity Global High Income Mutual Fund will invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of interest bearing, dividend-paying or distribution-paying securities within a global mandate. The initial monthly will be 4 cents per unit, or a non-compounded annualized yield of 4.8%.

The Acuity Global Dividend Fund will invest in a basket of global dividend-paying equities, offering an initial yield of 2.4%, based on a quarterly distribution of $0.06 per unit.

The Acuity Natural Resource Fund will invest primarily in equity securities of a diversified group of companies engaged either directly or indirectly in the natural resource sector.

All three funds are available in Class A and Class F Units.

(10/26/06)