Integrating environmental, social and corporate governance considerations into investment decision making is no easy task and, although some appreciate this fact, large pension funds have drawn a fair share of criticism for failing to provide leadership in this area. A panel of pension managers and SRI experts convened by Mercer Investment Consulting and the University […]
December capped off a banner year for mutual funds in Canada. Strong financial markets and a corresponding increase in sales helped the industry post its largest ever annual increase in assets. Industry assets rose nearly 15% to $570 billion last year, up from $497.3 billion in 2004. The 2005 Review of Annual Mutual Fund Statistics, […]
Since extending its purchase offer in December, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services (IA) has acquired 444,250 more outstanding common shares of Clarington Corporation. IA now owns more than 14.5 million shares, which represents a little more than 98% of Clarington’s issued and outstanding shares. The Industrial Alliance offer to purchase outstanding Clarington shares expired […]
The combined wisdom of investment managers from 157 firms worldwide, suggests that global equity performance will be positive in 2006, but will almost certainly lag 2005 returns. In the 15th annual “fearless forecast” produced by Mercer Investment Consulting, money managers say they expect equity performance in 2006 will trail last year’s double digit returns for […]
Figuring out what your fellow advisors are selling to their clients is a fun exercise, but getting the rare opportunity to eavesdrop while they delve into more hypothetical scenarios is even more enjoyable. The idea was hatched in Advisor.ca’s Town Hall, when an advisor named Henk asked the question: “If you could own only one […]
Despite popular opinion that the oil sector has peaked, RBC Capital Markets analyst Kurt Hallead says the current energy cycle is running broader, deeper and longer than any other in recent memory. What’s more, valuations in the sector are flashing “buy” signals and oil service companies will lead the way in the coming year, he […]
Even though North American markets are expected to outperform Japan and Europe next year, investment managers say the time is right to revisit portfolio holdings and consider investments outside of Canada. According to the Canadian Investment Manager Outlook, a survey of 30 senior level investment managers at Canadian firms conducted by Russell Investment Group, managers […]
Economic forecasts for the coming year suggest global growth rates will be very similar to those posted in 2005, but outside of that high level prediction, opinions vary widely on a number of issues including interest rates, the price of oil, gold and the Canadian dollar. Getting a consensus opinion from a group of economists […]
‘Tis the season of tax deadlines and good cheer. Charitable contributions need to be made before the end of the year if clients want to apply the credit to the income they earned in 2004. Although charitable giving tax strategies are now more commonplace than ever before — boomers are wealthier, aging and thinking about […]
Mutual fund sales jumped nine-fold in November compared to last year, to $2.3 billion. It’s the best sales total for the industry since March and the strongest November since 2001. “It was generally a hearty month for the industry in terms of aggregates sales numbers,” says Rudy Luukko, investment funds editor at Morningstar Canada. “The […]