Model Portfolio Review – December 2013
December capped off a strong year for the portfolios, as each finished the year well into positive territory. Each finished the year ahead of its respective benchmark, except for the Growth Portfolio, which was 0.2% behind its benchmark. For the year, most of the excess performance was generated by two funds. The first was the Manulife Strategic Income Fund which handily outpaced the DEX Bond...
Read MoreModel Portfolio Review – November 2013
It was another good month for the portfolios, with each posting positive returns. In fact, all portfolios managed to outpace their benchmark, except for the Growth Portfolio, which underperformed. U.S. equity led the way higher as jobs and consumer spending looked to rebounding. Asian equities, particularly China were strong, after the Chinese government announced plans for sweeping economic...
Read MoreModel Portfolio Review – October 2013
Investors shrugged off any potential economic fallout from the U.S. government shutdown and took equity markets higher in October. The Canadian dollar weakened compared with the U.S. greenback, which further boosted returns for Canadian investors. Each of the portfolios was firmly in positive territory during the month, led by the Growth Portfolio which gained 3.9%. The Conservative Portfolio...
Read MoreModel Portfolio Review – September 2013
Global equity markets were positive after the U.S. Federal Reserve shocked the markets and did not implement any tapering to their massive bond buying program. Expectations that a taper of between $10 and $20 billion would be announced at the September meeting. With no taper on the immediate horizon, both bond and equity markets rallied higher. Each of our portfolios was in positive territory in...
Read MoreModel Portfolio Review – August 2013
Canadian equities were the big winner in August, as commodities were higher on mid-east tension. Global equities were largely flat or negative, and bonds were pushed lower on investor concerns over when the U.S. Federal Reserve would begin to slow its massive bond buying program. All of our portfolios were in the red during the month, with the Conservative portfolio posting the largest loss....
Read MoreModel Portfolio Review – July 2013
With investor worries over higher rates pushed to the backburner, the portfolios all posted respectable gains. The Growth Portfolio led the pack, gaining 2.8%, handily outpacing its benchmark thanks to strong showings from the Renaissance Global Healthcare Fund, Trimark U.S. Small Companies Fund, and the Mackenzie Ivy Foreign Equity Fund. Year to date, the portfolio is up more than 15%. At the...
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