ishares

A: The iShares 1-5 Yr Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF, $17.24, symbol CBO on Toronto (Units outstanding: 41.6 million; Market cap: $717.2 million; www.blackrock.com/ca), invests in a portfolio of short-term and medium-term corporate bonds....

Most top international markets have rebounded since their big drop at the start of the pandemic. Going forward, we think the outlook remains positive for quality stocks in those markets. One way to profit from their growth—while cutting your risk—is to invest in top ETFs.


Here’s a look at four international funds we see as suitable for your new buying....

ISHARES CORE MSCI CANADIAN QUALITY DIVIDEND INDEX ETF $23 (Toronto symbol XDIV; Units o/s: 34.0 million; Market cap: $782.0 million; Dividend yield: 4.5%; www.blackrock.com/ca) aims to invest in Canadian stocks with above-average dividend yields and steady or increasing dividends....

ISHARES MSCI TAIWAN INDEX FUND, $44.24, is a buy for aggressive investors. The ETF (New York symbol EWT; buy or sell through brokers) gives you direct exposure to some of the top public companies of this East Asian powerhouse economy.


The fund’s largest holding is Taiwan Semiconductor at 22.0% of assets....

The major Canadian and U.S. stock markets, while still subject to volatility, continue to offer attractive returns for investors—especially if you buy the top stocks. All in all, we think that if you can afford to stay in the market for several years or longer, now is a good time for new buying....

A: The iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF, $24.44, symbol XEI on Toronto (Units outstanding: 58.7 million; Market cap: $1.4 billion; www.blackrock.com/ca), aims to track the S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index, which effectively holds the 75 highest-yielding Canadian stocks.

The index is market-capitalization weighted, with each stock capped at 5% (any stock may rise above 5% temporarily until rebalancing)....

Biotechnology is a science-driven industry that uses living organisms and molecular biology to produce healthcare-related products. Biotechnology is best known for its role in medicine and pharmaceuticals, but the science is also applied in other areas such as genomics, food production, and the production of biofuels.


The term biotechnology was first used by Károly Ereky in 1919 to refer to the production of products from raw materials with the aid of living organisms....

Biotechnology companies have been at the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in healthcare over the past two decades—and there are more developments in the pipeline. However, the high cost of product development, long lead times for product testing and regulatory approvals, and low success rates add to their risk.


Here are two ETFs that benefit from the opportunities presented by biotech firms despite those challenges....

ISHARES S&P/TSX REIT INDEX ETF, $16.23, is a hold. The ETF (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) lets investors tap all 16 Canadian real estate investment trusts in the S&P/TSX REIT Index....

The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe and is among the world’s top 10. However, over the near term, it faces challenges. This includes high inflation, which has forced interest rate hikes, and an overall slower global economy, which has hurt exports....