Scotia Pacific Rim Fund
Shortly after Scotia acquired Dundee, they replaced the managers on this fund with Chuk Wong, who manages the Dynamic Far East Value Fund, which is one of our top picks in the Asia Pacific Equity category. An encouraging note is that since Mr. Wong took over the management duties of this fund, it has actually outpaced his Dynamic offering. Perhaps the biggest reason for this is that this fund is more focused on large cap stocks, while the Dynamic version will go a bit more into the mid cap space.
Read MoreScotia CanAm Index Fund
This index fund is designed to replicate the performance of the S&P 500 on an after fee basis. Unlike many index funds, this one gets its investment exposure through the use of derivatives, rather than investing in the actual underlying stocks. Currency exposure is not hedged.
Read MoreScotia Canadian Growth Fund
To help manage volatility, he combines both core and cyclical elements in his portfolios. Core holdings are typically growth companies that have strong fundamental businesses that are likely to be less sensitive to the economy as well has having demonstrated the ability to grow dividends over time. The cyclical portion of the portfolio is made up of economically sensitive names that generate most of their returns through capital appreciation.
Read MoreDesjardins Canadian Balanced Fund
Anyway you look at this fund, it has been a disappointment. Performance has lagged both the index and the majority of its peer group in virtually all time periods. As of August 31, the fund’s ten year return has been 3.75% while a benchmark of 60% Canadian equities and 40% Canadian bonds would have earned 7.89%.
Read MoreTempleton Emerging Markets Fund
Since Patricia Perez-Coutts bolted from AGF, we have been taking a more detailed look at many other of the emerging market funds available, and one that has come up on our radar is the Templeton Emerging Markets Fund. It is managed by Mark Mobius, who is largely considered to be one of the pioneers of emerging market investing. While this fund is no longer the biggest in the country, Franklin Templeton remains one of the largest players in the emerging market space globally.
Read MoreFidelity Income Allocation Fund
Before July 2010, this fund was known as the Fidelity Monthly High Income Fund, which invested primarily in income trusts. Since then, it has been renamed and now has a target asset mix of 70% fixed income and 30% equity. Lead managers Geoffrey Stein and Derek Young have the flexibility to be fairly active around this target asset mix.
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