Mutual Fund News
A mutual fund taking ETFs to the masses
rcarrick@globeandmail.com There's a radical new development in one of the great corporate competitions of our time.Mac v. PC has nothing on mutual funds v. exchange-traded funds, better known as ETFs. Just to set the stage, mutual funds have vastly more market share, while the ETF business is growing faster.
Cautious investors flock to balanced, bond funds
FUNDS REPORTERCanadian investors flocked to balanced and bond funds in October as rallying North American stocks markets lost steam, and fell into the red.Balanced funds attracted nearly $1.6-billion in net sales last month, while bond funds brought in $1.1-billion, according to figures released yesterday by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC).
Convictions rare in regulators' battle against a near-invisible crime
bmckenna@globeandmail.com Martha Stewart's downfall began when she avoided a $50,000 (U.S.) loss by dumping her ImClone shares before the stock tanked on some bad news.
Don't shy away from funds in your online account
With the freedom of an online brokerage account comes the responsibility of choosing smart investments.Mutual funds, anyone? Many online investors consider themselves too savvy to buy funds, which they see as over-priced for what they deliver. But funds can work well in an online brokerage account, if you choose shrewdly.
Hedge funds on top in five-year snapshot
swon@globeandmail.comWHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?Leaders and laggards over the past five years.Given that some managers may engage in a game of musical chairs between firms, five years is a decent period to look at long-term performance.
Ontario deals blow to fund industry
The Ontario government has refused to exempt mutual funds from its new harmonized sales tax, but the industry is now jockeying for other measures to try to shelter investors from paying an extra levy on retirement savings.
For greater diversification, look beyond Canada
INVESTMENT REPORTERCanada is a wonderful place to be a dividend investor - if you don't mind owning a lot of banks, pipelines and resource producers.But if you crave exposure to other sectors such as health care, consumer products and technology, it pays to look beyond Canada's borders.
This hedge fund is more like a stork than a vulture
awillis@globeandmail.com I had a set-to with my editor when I tried to use the word ''vulture'' to describe the latest $1-billion fund raised by Newton Glassman's team at Toronto-based Catalyst Capital Group.
Smaller gold miners show their lustre
swon@globeandmail.comWHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?Precious metals funds are shining the brightest this year.Gold futures surged this week after India bought 200 tonnes of the metal from the International Monetary Fund. Gold for December delivery hit a record high of $1,100 (U.S.) an ounce yesterday, but closed at $1,095.70 in New York.
As recessionary darkness passes, dividends rise and shine
Hear that? That's the sound of no major dividend cuts this earnings season.It's a welcome relief from past quarters when dividend stalwarts such as General Electric announced earnings were too weak to pass along the normal payout to shareholders.
