A lot has changed…

Technology has made the world smaller. Things move fast and things change even faster. The news, views, and concerns of the world make it to our screens in the matter of seconds. When it comes to wealth management and investing, it can be hard to keep perspective.

January 25, 2018

RESULTS at a glance – 2017 Year End

After a sub-par start, Canadian equities played quick catch-up.  U.S. stocks had robust returns, though lowered substantially by the loonie’s surge.  Short-term interest rates are rising, in Canada and the U.S.  Oil broke out of its slump ending higher than analysts’ forecasts.  Gold experienced redemption in 2017, too.  Read more […]
November 20, 2017

Attention to Detail – November Edition

A Checklist for Trusting Management (GuruFocus). Great companies come in different shapes and sizes, with varying strengths and capabilities, but something that stands out as an absolute must across all sectors and industries is a responsible and proactive management team. The actions of those at the top will determine whether […]
November 3, 2017

Rebalancing discipline– through good and bad times

Equities have continued to shine this year.  Given stock-market-momentum, it’s likely a good time for many investors to rebalance their portfolios.  Rebalancing is the action of adjusting a portfolio’s asset class allocations from its current weightings–determined by market forces–back to the policy’s optimal weights.  In this blog we briefly explain […]
October 6, 2017

RESULTS at a glance

Canadian stocks and gold prices both rose in the third quarter of 2017.  U.S. stocks were up, though the majority of the gains were lost due to the loonie’s strength this quarter. Long-term bond yields diverged, rising in Canada while relatively flat in the U.S.  The price of oil recovered […]
September 14, 2017

Attention to Details – September Edition

Short-Term Noise and Long–Term Investing: An example of why long-term investing is harder than it sounds (GuruFocus). One of the most difficult tasks faced by investors is maintaining conviction with a company in the face of short-term, negative price action. Quite often, it is the noise of a stock’s recent […]
August 17, 2017

September 5, 2017 T+2: Ready, Get Set, Switch!

Years in the works, September 5, 2017 marks the target date for an important change in the securities marketplace.  On that day Canada and the U.S. intend to shorten their standard securities settlement cycle. The Canadian Capital Market Association is working to promote investor awareness and prepare Canada to switch. […]
July 20, 2017

Results at a Glance

Read more about H1 – 2017 in WDS Investment Perspectives. Canadian and U.S. stock-returns diverged even more this quarter, with the Canadian market slumping as U.S. markets set record highs. Long-term bond yields took different directions as well, rising in Canada and falling in the US. Gold is flat since March. […]
July 10, 2017

The Yield Whisper Part II – Is the Dividend Sustainable?

In Part I (link) we explored the question “is a higher yield always better?” Not necessarily it turned out if it’s only the result of a declining stock price. Now let’s break down the dividend yield further by zooming in on the annual dividend payout. As a future investor you […]
November 22, 2019

Deflating the Index Fund Bubble Argument

Back in September, Bloomberg released an interview with hedge fund manager Michael Burry (link). Burry is famous for predicting the housing market bubble of 2008; he is even depicted by Christian Bale in “The Big Short” film, based on the book by Michael Lewis. In this interview, however, Burry expressed […]
October 7, 2019

RESULTS at a glance – 3Q19

Trends from the first half of the year continued into the third quarter of 2019. Canadian and U.S. markets sustained their turbulent upward trajectory while 10-year government yields continued to sink, with the Federal Reserve cutting rates twice since the end of July. With the Bank of Canada holding steady […]
August 19, 2019

Attention to Detail – August 2019

Strategic Value Investing: Industry Analysis (GuruFocus) In the world of active management, investors can be easily infatuated by the qualities of a company. A business with healthy margins, high historical growth rates, and a solid balance sheet may stand out as an attractive buy. But as this month’s article points […]
July 19, 2019

RESULTS at a glance – 2Q19

Canadian and U.S. markets hit new highs this year, recovering their losses from the December drop of 2018. A pause in rate hikes has led to a decline in bond yields, and the Federal Reserve’s dovish tone towards the economy has allowed the Canadian dollar to appreciate. Oil prices have […]