Dave Paterson’s Top Funds Report is published on a monthly basis and highlights the best funds that were reviewed in the past month. This is an invaluable tool that provides you with indepth, expert analysis on a wide range of mutual funds and ETFs.
You can browse through our previous editions below. You can also view our recent Mutual Fund Reviews here.
If there is a fund that you would like to see reviewed in a future edition, please send your request to feedback@paterson-associates.ca.
Top Funds Report – November 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Global Markets Rally Higher Investors rejoice despite government shutdown and tapering fears Historically, October has been one of the most volatile months for equity markets, and this year looked to be no different. The stage was set as continuing uncertainty over the prospect of the U.S. Federal Reserve slowing the pace of its bond buying program weighed on investors. Adding fuel to this potential fire was the high stakes game of chicken playing out between the Republicans and Democrats that led to a...
read moreTop Funds Report – October 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Last minute deal averts U.S. default Deal does little more than push problems back into the New Year. On Thursday, U.S. president Barack Obama signed a deal passed by Congress to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. Without this deal, it was a very real possibility that the U.S. would default on its debt, which could have caused a financial catastrophe. While some short term celebrations may be in order, this is nothing more than a short term fix. It funds the government through January 15,...
read moreTop Funds Report – September 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Syria and tapering worry investors Concern over possible military action and outlook for higher yields push equities lower. Investor worries over when the U.S. Federal Reserve would begin tapering its bond buying program re-emerged in August, pushing yields higher. The yield on the benchmark ten year U.S. Treasury bond rose from 2.60% to 2.78%. In Canada, it was similar, with the yield jumping from 2.45% to 2.61% on the Government of Canada ten year bond. This continued rise in yields caused losses in...
read moreTop Funds Report – August 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Third quarter starts off strong Calmer heads prevail as economic numbers continue to improve. The third quarter started off well with gains in both stocks and bonds. Worries over higher interest rates took a back seat to improving economic fundamentals both at home and abroad. In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite Index rose by 3.2%, led by strong gains in gold companies, consumer staples and financials. Gold rallied by more than 7.3% on expectations that the low interest rate environment...
read moreTop Funds Report – July 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Fed Fears Continue to Spook Markets Investors sell bonds, equities and commodities in anticipation of the end of QEIII June proved to be a rough month on the markets as traders continued to digest comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke about the eventual end to the $85 million bond buying program. Many took these comments to mean that the Fed would be ending the program much sooner than many had anticipated, and sold off stocks, bonds and commodities with abandon. Interest...
read moreTop Funds Report – June 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Bond yields spike higher on Fed fears Investors speculate that Fed will end quantitative easing program sooner than expected Yields on the benchmark ten year government bonds rose on these rumblings, with the Canadian ten year moving from 1.69% to 2.06%, and the U.S. ten year rose to 2.16% from 1.87%. This caused a selloff in the bond markets, with the DEX Universe Bond Index falling by more than 1.5%. Long bonds and real return bonds, with their longer durations were hit the hardest, while...
read moreTop Funds Report – May 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Global Markets Rally Sharply Higher Weakness in gold and materials continues to weigh on Canadian equities Global equities continued their impressive streak of gains while Canadian equities were lower thanks to continuing weakness in the materials and energy sectors. The S&P/TSX Composite Index shed 2.07%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.95% in Canadian dollar terms. The star of the month was the MSCI EAFE Index gaining 4.43%, besting all other major indices. Regionally, both Europe and the...
read moreTop Funds Report – April 2013
The first quarter of 2013 rewarded investors, as global equity markets surged higher. The U.S. led the way with the S&P 500 rising by nearly 13%, finishing at a record high. International equities were also strong, as the MSCI EAFE Index and MSCI World Index rose by 7.4% and 10.1% respectively. Were it not for the rise in the Canadian dollar, these gains would have been even higher.
read moreTop Funds Report – March 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report Investors Rewarded Despite Mixed Signals Most markets rally higher, Canadian dollar weakness amplifies gains for Canadian investors. February was another profitable month for investors with all major equity and fixed income markets moving higher. In Canada, the S&P / TSX Composite Index gained 1.3% on the month. U.S. equities were higher with the S&P 500 gaining 1.4% in U.S. dollar terms. For Canadian investors, the gain was amplified, as the Canadian dollar dropped from $1.0008 on...
read moreTop Funds Report – February 2013
Download the PDF Version of this Report 2013 Starts out Strong for Equity Markets S&P 500 shows best monthly gain since October 2011. All equity markets in the black. Bonds post losses. 2013 started out very well with all major equity markets in positive territory. The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 2.25% during the month, but lagged its global brethren. The S&P 500 gained 5.73% in Canadian dollar terms, while the MSCI EAFE Index rose by 5.74%. In fact, the S&P 500 had its best month since October 2011 and it was its...
read more