Investments

Bond fund returns crush equity funds in 2011

The year 2011 will go down in the books as a rough one for equity investors, at least among Canadian mutual funds, as 20 of Morningstar Canada’s 22 equity fund indexes posted a negative return for the year.

By Staff |January 4, 2012

2 min read

Industry

IIROC studies impact of electronic trading

IIROC has published the first two phases of a comprehensive report on high-frequency trading in Canadian equity markets.

By Staff |January 4, 2012

2 min read

Products

PowerShares changes underlying fund of Global Water ETF

Invesco Canada has announced the underlying fund for its PowerShares Global Water Class, PowerShares Global Water Portfolio, will replace its index, the Palisades Global Water Index, with the NASDAQ OMX Global Water Index. Effective March 1, 2012, the underlying fund will seek investment results that generally correspond (before fees and expenses) to the price and […]

By Staff |January 3, 2012

1 min read

Market Insights

Taking stock of change

While I paused a live hockey game the other night to grab a snack I got to thinking how the way I experience the NHL in my home has changed. It makes me smile when I recall listening to the radio, the action coming alive in my mind as Foster Hewitt called the game. Things have definitely changed. The same is true in the investment world.

By Peter Drake |January 3, 2012

7 min read

Fed to offer interest rate forecasts

In a major shift, the U.S. Federal Reserve will start updating the public four times a year on how long it plans to keep short-term interest rates at record lows, according to minutes from its December policy meeting.

By Wire services |January 3, 2012

2 min read

Start 2012 off right

Over the next five years, dollar and variety stores are expected to perform well by targeting low-income households and thrifty customers. Competition will challenge the industry, but consumers will rely on the stores for inexpensive discretionary purchases.

By Chip Brian |January 1, 2012

3 min read

Tax-loss harvesting deadline looming

Low turnover and in-kind transfers have made ETFs popular with tax-conscious investors and their advisors. Choosing an ETF over a mutual fund generally provides immediate cost and tax savings, but there are additional ways to enhance aftertax returns using ETFs.

2 min read

Japan: After the earthquake

Kaifukuroyoku is Japanese for resilience and this word perfectly captures the Japanese people’s ability to overcome hardship and disaster this year. Their ability to make a steady recovery from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that hit the nation on March 11 is a case in point.

By Rayann Huang |December 21, 2011

3 min read

Investments

Bond fund returns crush equity funds in 2011

IIROC studies impact of electronic trading

PowerShares changes underlying fund of Global Water ETF

Taking stock of change

Fed to offer interest rate forecasts

Forget a cottage; some clients want to own a secluded hideaway

Start 2012 off right

Faceoff: wading through volatility

Tax-loss harvesting deadline looming

Japan: After the earthquake