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NASDAQ-100 TRUST SHARES $35.03 (Nasdaq Exchange symbol QQQQ; buy or sell through brokers), or “Qubes,” hold the stocks that represent the Nasdaq 100 Index, which is made up of the 100 largest, most heavily traded stocks on the Nasdaq exchange.

The index contains firms from a number of major industries, including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, retail/wholesale trade and biotechnology. It …read more »

DIAMONDS TRUST SHARES $85.20 (American Exchange symbol DIA; buy or sell through brokers) hold the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The fund’s top 10 holdings are: IBM, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Corp., 3M, Procter & Gamble, McDonald’s Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart Stores, United Technologies and Coca-Cola. The fund’s expenses are about 0.17% of its assets.

Diamonds Trust …read more »

GEORGE WESTON LTD. $63.25 (Toronto symbol WN; Shares outstanding: 129.1 million; Market cap: $8.2 billion; SI Rating: Above Average) operates in two distinct divisions: Weston Foods, which includes 31 fresh and frozen bakery plants in Canada, and seven plants in the U.S. producing frozen-baked goods, as well as biscuits, cookies, ice-cream cones and wafers; and a 62% interest in Loblaw …read more »

With the unpredictability of the stock market and mutual funds’ performance, it’s getting harder to make the right investment choices. However, as with stock trading, mutual fund investing should be done with the long term in mind. You need to find a solid fund and stick with it.

There are, of course, thousands of choices available at any time. Most funds …read more »

Penny stocks tend to be more speculative, and are engaged in such things as finding mineral deposits that can be mined at a profit, commercializing an unproven technology or launching new software applications.

Because success in these endeavours is so rare, it’s all the more important to look for investment quality in your penny stocks.

It’s hard for any new company to …read more »

We think investors will profit most — and with the least risk — by buying shares of well-established, dividend-paying companies with strong business prospects. These are companies that have strong positions in a healthy industry. They also have strong management that will make the right moves to remain competitive in a changing marketplace.

A company with a long-term record of paying …read more »

Should you stick with your current stock broker or switch to a discounter? To answer that question, you need to consider your own experience and abilities, and those of your stock broker.

Brokers, good and bad

A good stock broker (one who is experienced, knowledgeable, and oriented toward the long term) is worth the top commissions you are likely to pay. For …read more »

Asset allocation funds are mutual funds that distribute their assets in accordance with all investors’ goals (consistent returns, diversified investments, etc.). Unlike balanced funds, they can shift their portfolio allocations between stocks, bonds and cash in order to capitalize on perceived investment opportunities in any one of those classes.

If a fund’s name includes the term “asset allocation,” it means …read more »

These are difficult times for income-seeking investors. Bonds yield around half of what they did 10 years ago, yet more and more investors are nearing retirement, when many pay close attention to investment income. Many also see income as a sign of investment quality. These factors have kept up investor interest in income trusts.
Despite Ottawa’s plan to start taxing trust …read more »

Dividend reinvestment plans (or DRIPs) are plans offered by some companies that let shareholders receive additional shares in lieu of cash dividends.

DRIPs can be a good way to slowly build wealth over a long period, for a number of reasons. First, they eliminate the nuisance of receiving small cash dividend payments. Second, some of them let you reinvest your …read more »