Market Insights

The Pulse: Goodbye QE2, hello QE3?

Americans had a holiday shortened week, but unfortunately their day off did little to change the tone in the markets. Disappointing economic data failed to provide any confidence to investors and continued ongoing discussion about the health of the U.S. economy and the possibility that further monetary policy actions may be required when QE2 wraps up at the end of the month.

By Gareth Watson |June 6, 2011

4 min read

Market Insights

Vanguard launches Canadian business

The Pennsylvania-based investment management company, Vanguard, has opened a Canadian arm—Vanguard Investments Canada Inc. “Extending our reach to the Canadian market in a significant way is an important step in the development of our global business,” said Vanguard chair and CEO William McNabb. “Although Canada has a very well-developed asset management market, we believe our […]

By Staff |June 6, 2011

2 min read

Market Insights

OSC names vice-chair, two commissioners

The Ontario Securities Commission has named Mary Condon as a vice-chair to the commission, effective June 1, 2011 for a term of two years. This follows a three year stint as a commissioner. “Mary Condon’s extensive legal expertise and significant experience in investor initiatives, adjudication and corporate governance will greatly assist the Commission in its […]

By Staff |June 6, 2011

1 min read

Industry

XTF launches convertible bond ETF

XTF Capital Corp. has launched the Canadian Convertible Liquid Universe ETF, Canada’s first Convertible Bond ETF. It will begin trading on the TSX on June 7. “The Convertible Bond XTF is unique to Canada,” said Barry Gordon, president and CEO of XTF Capital Corp. and its parent company, First Asset. “Our deep experience with convertible […]

By Staff |June 6, 2011

1 min read

MGA merger to create national player

Read: Our Distributors’ Summit coverage Two of Canada’s managing general agencies have announced plans to merge. The combination of Worldsource Insurance Network Inc. and IDC Financial Inc. would create one of Canada’s largest MGAs. “Worldsource is excited to be associated with IDC,” said Paul Brown, president and CEO of WIN. “It is a firm with […]

By Staff |June 3, 2011

2 min read

Tax Freedom arrives a little later

Monday June 6 will see the newly minted Conservative government table the federal budget for the second time this year, but it also marks another milestone: Tax Freedom Day. Every year the Fraser Institute calculates the day when the average Canadian will have paid off their tax burden for the year, with earnings from the […]

By Staff |June 3, 2011

2 min read

Investing as much art as science

Investing is intuitive, according to Craig Swanger, head of Macquarie Global Investments. Australia-based Swanger, who is in Canada for a cross-country tour, made this assertion to a group of advisors and clients at the Allstream Centre in Toronto last night. Modern portfolio theory says don’t put all your eggs in one basket, but over the […]

2 min read

Canadians split on mortgage choices

It is now widely assumed that the Bank of Canada will put off raising interest rates until September, following this week's decision to stay the course. Yet a survey conducted by CIBC/Harris Decima suggests Canadians are split on what this might mean for their mortgages.

By Staff |June 2, 2011

2 min read

Bond funds come out on top in May

It was another good month to be a bond investor in May, as fixed income mutual funds excelled against equity mandates, according to preliminary performance data from Morningstar Canada. Among the 44 fund indexes tracked by Morningstar Canada, 28 had positive returns in May. These were led by the small Health Care Equity index (+4.4%) […]

By Staff |June 2, 2011

2 min read