ADRs make international investing safer

Global stock market investing still remains riskier in many ways than investing in North America. That’s because many foreign countries, particularly China and other emerging markets, have language barriers and weaker investor-protection laws. They may also have less commitment to openness, fairness and so on.

You… Read More

Manulife Financial $20.15 – Toronto symbol MFC

MANULIFE FINANCIAL $20.15 (Toronto symbol MFC; Shares outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $30.1 billion; SI Rating: Above-Average) sells life and other forms of insurance, as well as mutual funds and investment-management services. Manulife operates in 19 countries and territories worldwide, and adminsters $385.3 billion in… Read More

Manulife Shores Up Its Capital Base

Canadian life-insurance stocks are down lately on investor concerns that the economic slowdown will continue to hurt their profits.

As well, insurers use gains on their bond and stock holdings to cover future claims and to make up underwriting losses. They have suffered as the values… Read More

Global stock market: Top quality at 19% off

ECONOMIC INVESTMENT TRUST $75.50 (Toronto symbol: EVT) holds a well-diversified portfolio of high-quality Canadian, U.S. and foreign stocks.

The $589.8 million fund’s largest holdings include E-L Financial, Algoma Central Railway, Chevron, Nissan Motor, Royal Dutch Shell, Altria Group, Dow Chemical, ConocoPhillips, Allianz SE, Arcelor Mittal, ING… Read More