Topic: How To Invest

ISHARES CANADIAN BOND INDEX FUND $29.23 – Toronto symbol XBB

ISHARES CANADIAN BOND INDEX FUND $29.23 (CWA Rating: Income) (Toronto symbol XBB; buy or sell through a broker) mirrors the performance of the DEX Universe Bond Index.

This index consists of a wide range of investment-grade Canadian government and corporate bonds with terms to maturity of more than one year. The 221 bonds in the fund’s portfolio have an average term to maturity of 8.7 years.

The bonds in the index are 71.2% government and 28.8% corporate. The fund sticks with high-quality government bonds from issuers such as Canada Housing Trust, Government of Canada and Province of Ontario, plus high-quality corporate bonds from issuers such as Bank of Montreal, TransCanada Pipelines, Bank of Nova Scotia, Great-West Lifeco and Bell Canada.

The fund’s expenses are 0.30% of assets per year.

The iShares Canadian Bond Index Fund yields 4.4%, just above the yield on the Canadian Short Bond Index Fund. The only reason to hold this fund for the extra 0.4% yield is if you think that interest rates are going to fall further. Otherwise, buy the Short Bond Index Fund.

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