Fund Buys From 5 Top Canadian Banks

Here are five large funds run by each of Canada’s big-five banks. Each holds the kind of conservative, well-balanced portfolios of high quality stocks we recommend. All five have a high weighting in Financial services and Energy stocks. However, they stick with high-quality issues with… Read More

Just The Beginning

ALCAN INC. $86 (Toronto symbol AL; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 367.6 million; Market cap: $31.6 billion; SI Rating: Above average) soared after rival aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. (New York symbol AA) launched a hostile (that is, unwanted by Alcan’s management) takeover bid… Read More

Buy for Top Stock Holdings

HARBOUR FUND $21.92 (CWA Rating: Conservative)(C.I. Mutual Funds, 151 Yonge St., 7th Floor, Toronto, ON M5C 2W7. 1-800-268-9374; Web site: www.cifunds.com. Load fund — available from brokers) invests in only 25 to 40 high-quality Canadian stocks, and it may hold stocks for four or five… Read More

Power Concerns Hinder Alcan’s Expansion

ALCAN INC. $62 (Toronto symbol AL; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 370.7 million; Market cap: $23.0 billion; SI Rating: Average) wants to double capacity at its smelter in Iceland, but local residents narrowly voted down the proposal due to environmental concerns. Alcan will… Read More

Two Resource Sector Funds with Gains Ahead

TD RESOURCE FUND $32.96 (CWA Rating: Aggressive) (TD Asset Management, P.O. Box 7500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario. M5W 1P9. 1-800-463-3863; Website:www.tdcanadatrust.ca. No load — deal directly with the bank) invests in companies with superior asset bases, proven management and the ability to internally finance growth.

The… Read More

Focus On Alcan’s Value, Not Takeover Talk

ALCAN INC. $60 (Toronto symbol AL; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 366.7 million; Market cap: $22.0 billion; SI Rating: Average) is the world’s third-largest producer of aluminum, after U.S.-based Alcoa Inc. and Rusal, a Russian company. It also makes aluminum products for the… Read More

Takeover Rumor Spurs Gains in Novelis

NOVELIS INC. $44 (Toronto symbol NVL; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 74.0 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; SI Rating: Average) has struggled since former parent company Alcan Inc. (see page 25) spun it off in early 2005.

Novelis uses aluminum to make… Read More

Buy for Large-Cap Value

HARBOUR FUND $20.74 (CWA Rating: Conservative)(C.I. Mutual Funds, 151 Yonge St., 7th Floor, Toronto, ON M5C 2W7. 1-800-268-9374; Web site: www.cifunds.com. Load fund — available from brokers) invests in only 25 to 40 high-quality Canadian stocks, and it may hold stocks for four or five… Read More