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Stellar returns, but 'easy money's been made'
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Stellar returns, but 'easy money's been made'
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?High fliers among natural resource funds.Base metal and energy stocks have enjoyed a new lease on life this year, fuelled by signs of an economic recovery. Gold stocks have also glittered amid a falling U.S. dollar and fears of inflation.
Sector ETFs rise to the top of the list
swon@globeandmail.com WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the move.ETFs are similar to mutual funds, but trade like stocks. You can get in and out of a trade without an early redemption penalty, which is a feature of mutual funds. There are fees to buy and sell ETFs, but they can be low if you deal with a discount broker.
Flight Oil is now boarding
Riding oil prices higher requires some smart shopping for the right vehicle.Let's test drive three choices for the investor who wants decent power, but also a degree of comfort and convenience. On the sensible side, we have energy-focused mutual funds. For those who like a touch more horsepower, we have oil stocks and exchange-traded funds that track changes in oil prices, or indexes of energy stocks.
Few winners emerge from sapped energy funds
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?How much energy funds have sagged.A global economic slowdown, and falling commodity prices have zapped energy stocks. The Paris-based International Energy Agency yesterday added more pessimism, forecasting a drop in global oil demand in 2009 for a second consecutive year - the first time since 1982-83.
Snapping back quickly in a market rebound
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?Stock funds with the biggest bang in the recent rally.The SandP/TSX composite index, for instance, rose a robust 14 per cent for six consecutive days from Dec. 29 to Jan. 6 before some profit-taking set in. The SandP 500 index climbed 7.7 per cent - albeit not on consecutive days.
Three raging bulls as oil barrels higher
Energy stock funds have been on a tear as the price of oil keeps soaring, and at least one fund manager is sinking more of his own cash into his portfolio because of his belief in the ''peak oil'' story.
ETF building blocks: Three models for your RRSP
The exchange-traded fund sector has been criticized for spewing out new products like a fire hose, but there is an upside for investors.More variety means more tools for precision portfolio building. ETFs used to be a way for investors to buy exposure to major stock and bond indexes through a vehicle that trades like a stock, but they've branched out into every sector imaginable. ETFs also target different financial demographics - value investors, growth investors, income investors, hyper-aggressive traders and socially responsible investors, to name just some.
How to hitch a ride on the commodity express
There's good money to be made by investing in commodities - we all get that.But what's the best way for individuals to get their fair share of the kind of big rises we've seen in oil, gold and base metal prices? Stocks are one option, but there are hundreds of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds as well. Some of these funds hold the shares of commodity-producing companies, while others offer direct exposure to commodities such as gold and oil.
The case for blending passive and active indexing
The two biggest players in the Canadian exchange-trade funds market compete not only on the products they offer, but also on clashing investment philosophies that claim to be best for investors.
