Dear Pat: I am looking for a “defensive” ETF that will be less volatile than the overall market. I’m thinking of the BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF. What do you think?

The BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF, $25.54, symbol ZLB on Toronto (Units outstanding: 25.6 million; Market cap: $653.8 million; www.etfs.bmo.com), provides exposure to a low beta weighted portfolio of Canadian stocks.

The ETF selects the 40 lowest beta stocks from the 100 largest and… Read More

Railways are Safe Investments

Every portfolio needs a selection of mainstays that are safe investments, and we believe Canada’s two main railways can help provide these.

High fuel costs, flooding in the U.S. Midwest and a slowing economy have hurt earnings at Canada’s two main railways. However, both CP and… Read More