Market Intelligence

Recently there has been no shortage of negative news - the global stock markets have been under heavy selling pressures. Given that the scars of the last recession/bear market in 2008 have not fully healed, a large number of investors lack confidence and have become paralyzed and fearful in the global economy and financial markets. For this months issue of Market Intelligence, we review some key indicators and fundamentals of the marketplace to gain insight into future investment opportunities. [click to read more]

As the end of 2011 draws near, we remind investors to consider any tax-loss strategies in their portfolios. To ensure any loss is available for use now, trade settlement must take place in 2011, meaning trades must be effected no later than December 23rd. [click to read more]

As the United States and Europe struggle with anaemic economic growth and a future of fiscal austerity, where can investors find sustainable economic growth and improving government balance sheets? [click to read more]

The last few months the markets have been driven by headline news events. The U.S. has raised their debt ceiling, thus buying them time to take the necessary steps toward a more fiscally responsible direction., [click to read more]

The world is bullish on Canada! As we read investment reports from other countries around the world, we continue to see Canadian companies rated as a buy. This is no doubt due to Canada’s performance. Canada has performed well in the decade of the 2000’s compared to the S&P 500 and the MSCI EAFE index. [click to read more]

Everyone is vulnerable to inflation and higher interest rates to some degree. The closer you are to retirement and the more your investments are geared to generating income, the more sensitive you will be... [click to read more]

The energy income trust sector has come a long way since that frightening Halloween on October 31st, 2006, when the financial community learned that Energy and Business trusts were going to become taxable. [click to read more]

Investing in emerging markets (EM) equities has been a very rewarding strategy over the last fi ve years, producing annual returns in Canadian dollar terms of 8.82 per cent versus -3.11 per cent and 5.23 per cent for global stocks (MSCI World Index) and the TSX Index, respectively. [click to read more]

It was October 31, 2006 that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced beginning in 2011, Income Trusts will be taxed like corporations, and subject to the Specified Investment Flow Through Tax (SIFT). Since the announcement we have seen a wave of Income Trusts convert to Corporations. [click to read more]