Model Portfolio Review – April 2012
April was not a particularly kind month to the portfolios as each portfolio lagged their respective benchmarks during the month. In all cases, this underperformance was a result of the Cundill Value Fund, which lost 6.2% during the month, underperforming the MSCI World Index by more than 4%. On a positive note, the Canadian equity funds were strong relative performers, outpacing the S&P/TSX...
Read MoreMarket Commentary – April 2012
After posting strong gains in the first quarter of the year, equity markets retreated in April as investor concerns over the European debt crisis returned. The MSCI Europe Index dropped by nearly 3% after credit ratings agencies downgraded Spain’s debt with a negative outlook, hinting that further rating cuts may be coming. Spain paid a heavy price for this downgrade with the MSCI Spain Index plummeting by more than 13% in the month.
Read MoreSocially Responsible Investing Report – April 2012
With environmental and human rights concerns becoming more important to people, interest in the Socially Responsible Investing segment has never been stronger. In an effort to help keep investors and advisors informed on the SRI funds available, we have created our monthly Socially Responsible Investing Fund Report, which will be published on a monthly basis. You can download the April 30, 2012...
Read MoreWRAP Fund Report – April 2012
Fund of Fund or WRAP funds have consistently led the mutual funds sales stats in the past few years. Investor and advisor interest in the products are at an all time high, given the unprecedented levels of market volatility and uncertainty that is prevalent in the markets today. To help you zero in on the best WRAP funds available, we have created our new Monthly WRAP Funds Report that will be...
Read MoreRecommended List – March 2012
Please download the full report here. During the first quarter, there were a number of changes to the Recommended List. The changes which occurred are: AGF Canadian Small Cap Fund – We removed the AGF Canadian Small Cap Fund from our Recommend List during the quarter. We added the fund to our Recommended List in December 2009 and we were rewarded with strong performance in 2010. The fund...
Read MoreModel Portfolio Review – March 2012
March was another good month for our portfolios, with all five finishing in positive territory, and four out of the five outpacing their benchmarks. The only laggard was our Growth Portfolio which slightly underperformed its benchmark. Our Balanced Growth Portfolio posted a 1.3% gain during the month, outpacing its benchmark by 31 basis points. The biggest contributor to our outperformance was...
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