ISHARES DEX UNIVERSE BOND INDEX FUND $30.34 Toronto symbol XBB

ISHARES DEX UNIVERSE BOND INDEX FUND $30.34 (CWA Rating: Income) (Toronto symbol XBB; buy or sell through brokers) mirrors the performance of the DEX Universe Bond Index. The 762 bonds in the portfolio have an average term to maturity of 9.53 years. The fund’s MER is 0.33%.

The bonds in the index are 68.0% government and 32.0% corporate.

The fund yields 3.2%, compared to the Short-Term Bond Fund’s 2.6%. Its yield to maturity is 2.79%, 0.95% above the Short-Term Fund. That reflects the added risk of holding long-term bonds.

iShares DEX Universe Bond Fund is a buy for safety-conscious investors who can accept that risk.

A professional investment analyst for more than 30 years, Pat has developed a stock-selection technique that has proven reliable in both bull and bear markets. His proprietary ValuVesting System™ focuses on stocks that provide exceptional quality at relatively low prices. Many savvy investors and industry leaders consider it the most powerful stock-picking method ever created.