Money Digest back issues from February 2003:
New synthetic bonds: CARs and PARS are a new variety of corporate bond aimed at investors. (Fixed Income).
Feb 01, 2003; ... Fixed income investors now have more choices. CARs (Coupons And Residuals) and PARS (Par Adjusted Rate Securities) are new synthetic products that may be of interest to fixed income investors. RBC Dominion Securities has filed a new prospectus for $3 billion for the above ...
Portfolio-Linked Note from National Bank. (Money Matters).
Feb 01, 2003 ... National Bank has launched its Canadian Blue Chip Portfolio-Linked Note. Each note costs $100 and matures in 2010. Upon maturity, investors are to receive their initial $100 investment plus the increase in the value of a basket of 20 Canadian blue chip stocks. ($100 X the value ...
New Mutual Fund-Linked GIC from AGF. (Money Matters).
Feb 01, 2003 ... AGF Trust's new Mutual Fund Linked GIC offers investors the opportunity to participate in 65% of the market gains from three AGF mutual funds. Investors get both the protection of a GIC with the opportunity of higher return. The five-year GICs pay a guaranteed 5% at maturity In ...
New hedge funds from National Life. (Money Matters).
Feb 01, 2003 ... National Life has introduced two new hedge funds that combine growth potential with disciplined risk management with a minimum investment of just $1,000. The investment approach combines multiple strategies within a single fund. While focusing on preservation of capital and risk ...
ROI Fund lets investors get dividends first. (Money Matters).
Feb 01, 2003 ... The new ROI Fund is promising that investors are paid dividends first before the fund manager receives any performance bonus. The fund will invest in businesses in the manufacturing, health and financial service sectors with revenues ...
TransCanada Power sets sights on long-term: solid contracts, no long-term debt and strong operating efficiencies are positives. (Limited Partnerships).
Feb 01, 2003; ... TransCanada Power, L.P (TSX: TPL.UN; Recent price: $32.10; Rating: speculative) owns and operates seven electrical power generation plants in Ontario, B.C. and the U.S. The plants have total generating capacity of 328 megawatts. TransCanada Power sells its power under long-term contracts ...
Diversify with funds or ETFs? You may be better off doing it yourself with ETFs. (Investing).
Feb 01, 2003 ... Conventional wisdom (and some research studies) indicate that you can minimize your portfolio risk and achieve reasonable growth by diversifying your portfolio among different asset classes such stocks and bonds. If you don't want to bother doing this yourself you can let a ...
Transformed CCS must focus on execution: reborn as an income trust, CCS can benefit from its long-life assets and stable cash flow. (Income Trusts).
Feb 01, 2003; ... CCS Income Trust (TSX: CCR.UN; Recent price: $17.80) provides a wide array of energy services in Western Canada. Originally known as Canadian Crude Separators, CCS has evolved to the point where crude separation reflects only a small part of its total services. For example, its largest ...
Bissett Small Capital Class F knows when to hold 'em: this small cap fund seeks to provide growth at a reasonable price and boasts very low portfolio turnover. (Mutual Funds).
Feb 01, 2003 ... Small cap companies provide good opportunities for growth. However; many investors stay away from small cap stocks because of the risk -- less information is readily available, not many analysts follow them and small cap stocks appear less stable than large cap stocks. However such risks ...
The ABCs of RRSPs: contribution room, spousal plans, self-directed plans...they're all addressed here. (RRSPs).
Feb 01, 2003 ... The Institute of Chartered Accounts of Ontario A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is a key component of a sound financial plan, but many Canadians don't make regular contributions. If you have an RRSP -- or are thinking about starting one -- be sure you understand the ...
A sample ETF portfolio for your RRSP: treat this sample portfolio as a starting point to be adjusted based on your investment objectives. (Exchange Traded Funds).
Feb 01, 2003; ... With RSP season hype in full swing, many investors are contemplating their RSP portfolio decisions. Building efficient portfolios with ETFs is as easy as snapping Lego pieces together. More important than being dead simple, ETFs allow for asset allocation precision at a low ongoing cost ....
Equities. (Investment Capsule).
Feb 01, 2003 ... <Pre> EQUITIES STOCKS THAT PAY HIGHER DIVIDENDS The common stocks mentioned here trade on Canadian stock exchanges and pay dividends that are above 4.0% If the stock is of a qualifying Canadian corporation, the dividend is equal to an interest yield of 5.25% or above. This list is ...
Mutual funds. (Investment Capsule).
Feb 01, 2003 ... BEST 12-MONTH PERFORMANCE Funds listed in this section are open-end mutual funds. They have been selected on the basis of their previous 12-month performance. Mutual funds should be judged on their long-term, and consistent performance. The listing here is mainly intended to ...
Closed-end funds. (Investment Capsule).
Feb 01, 2003 ... <Pre> CLOSED - END FUNDS CLOSED-END FUNDS THAT TRADE AT A DISCOUNT Closed-end funds are companies whose main business is to invest. They do not accept money from investors on a continuous basis. If you are interested in buying them you have to a buy from other investors. They are ...
Fixed income. (Investment Capsule).
Feb 01, 2003 ... <Pre> FIXED INCOME HIGHER INTEREST RATES ON DEPOSITS The minimum amounts required to get the interest rates indicated in this table are $5,000 for term deposits and $1,000 for Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) TERMINTEREST % WHO PAYS ...
Mortgage rates. (Investment Capsule).
Feb 01, 2003 ... <Pre> MORTGAGE RATES BEST MORTGAGE RATES Mortgage rates change frequently. Please check the rates TYPE % WHERE Variable Rate 4.50 Several financial ...
Canada and the world. (Investment Capsule).
Feb 01, 2003 ... <Pre> CANADA AND THE WORLDINFLATION STOCK MARKETS UNEMPLOYMENT (CURRENT %) (12 MONTHS %) (12 MONTHS %) Australia3.2 -9.2 6.2 Austria 1.72.9 4.1 Belguim 1.4 -27.7 ...
An RRSP action plan: here are several RRSP strategies to maximize your gains this RRSP season. (RRSP).
Feb 01, 2003 ... Carry forward unused contribution room Have you made your maximum Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contribution in past years? If not, you can still make up the shortfall. For example, if you were allowed to contribute $5,000 for the 2001 tax year, but contributed only ...
Choosing the self-directed RRIF: payment flexibility, estate planning opportunities and tax deferral benefits are just some of the advantages. (Investment Strategy).
Feb 01, 2003; ... The Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) has been around since 1978, and after significant changes were made in 1986 and again in 1992, it is now a popular maturity option for your RRSP. You must select an RRSP maturity option before December 31 of the year you reach age 69 *. If you ...
Enhanced means added risk: 'enhanced' index funds rarely deliver better returns. (Index Funds).
Feb 01, 2003 ... It is very difficult to beat the market in the long run. Knowing this, many smart investors simply buy index funds or ETFs. However, human nature being what it is, some mutual funds try to "tweak" the index in an effort to outperform the index. Several years ago, for example, a ...
Living longer with critical illness: a critical illness policy can bridge the financial gap created when you survive a major illness. (Insurance).
Feb 01, 2003; ... At the beginning of the previous century, a 20-year-old man could have expected to live to the ripe old age of 62, on average. A 20-year-old woman could have expected to live to 63, on average. But with advances in medical science, the Society of Actuaries now tells us a man who turns 20 ...
Whole Foods pushing for organic profit growth: Whole Foods Market's enviable sales growth record begets more expansion. (Equities).
Feb 01, 2003 ... Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI; Recent price: US$50.12) is the world's largest supermarket retailer of natural and organic foods (items that are free of pesticides, preservatives, sweeteners, and cruelty). Whole Foods offers more than 1,200 items in four lines of private-label products ...