Inflation fears add to their appeal

While inflation pressures appear to be rising, consumer prices have seen only modest increases so far. Still, factors leading to a sharper rise may be building. They include today’s very low interest rates and the massive spending and borrowing by governments around the world to… Read More

Equities continued to rise in April

Equity markets in the developed world, especially North America, continued their upward climb in April while developing markets, especially India, struggled. REITs had another strong month, while selected commodities and miners also gained ground.
At the broad market level, the Vanguard Total World Stocks ETF… Read More

REITs are bouncing back from COVID

Investors who owned marijuana or energy stocks in the first quarter of 2021 saw considerable gains for these investments. Other big winners in the first quarter were U.S. homebuilders, value stocks, financials, agricultural equities, and mid- and small-cap stocks.
Stocks had another good quarter. At the… Read More

2021 is off to a mixed start

The Vanguard Total World Stocks ETF (VT) gained 0.1% in January 2021. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) lost 0.3%, and the iShares MSCI Canada Equity ETF (EWC) lost 1.1%. The iShares Core EAFE ETF (IEFA), which excludes U.S. and Canadian stocks, lost 1.5% in the month.
Emerging markets underperformed developed markets over the… Read More

COVID-19 challenged REIT ETFs

The speed of the March 2020 stock market decline, as well its rapid recovery to previous peaks, will rank high in the record books. For instance, the 34% drop for the S&P 500 took only 24 days while the recovery to its previous peak was… Read More

November: Good month for stocks

The month of November saw strong gains for stocks, commodities, and energy. This comes after the conclusion of the U.S. Presidential election and promising announcements from several pharmaceutical companies regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
At the broad market level, the Vanguard Total World Stocks ETF (VT) gained 10% in the… Read More

Most ETFs fell in October

The month of October saw declines in most asset classes, especially during the last trading week. That came after very strong gains for most assets starting in April.
Representing the broad global, U.S. and Canadian markets, the Vanguard Total World Stocks ETF (VT) lost 2.0%… Read More

Hold off on new buying

ISHARES S&P/TSX REIT INDEX ETF, $14.53, is a hold. The ETF (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) lets you tap all 21 Canadian real estate investment trusts in the S&P/TSX REIT Index. Investors pay a MER of 0.61%, and the REIT fund gives you a.. Read More

Own all of the top REITs

ISHARES S&P/TSX REIT INDEX ETF, $14.93, is a hold. The ETF (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) lets you tap all 21 Canadian real estate investment trusts in the S&P/TSX REIT Index. Investors pay a MER of 0.61%, and the REIT fund gives you a.. Read More

Hold Canada’s top REITs

ISHARES S&P/TSX REIT INDEX ETF, $13.33, is a hold. The ETF (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) lets you tap all 19 Canadian real estate investment trusts in the S&P/TSX REIT Index.
Investors pay a reasonable MER of 0.61%, and the REIT fund gives you a.. Read More