ishares

In early 2022, most real estate stocks and REITs were well on their way to recovering their pre-COVID highs. That was before investor worries about rising interest rates and a potential economic downturn set them back.


Nonetheless, for most real-estate classes (except for offices), occupancies are now mostly in line with pre-pandemic levels, and rents are rising....

The United Arab Emirates is a small country in a potentially volatile region, with neighbours like Yemen and Iran nearby. Still, it has used its oil riches wisely to diversify the economy and become a major commercial hub in the Middle East.


Here’s an ETF that provides exposure to the top companies listed in the UAE.


ISHARES MSCI UAE ETF $14.66 (New York symbol UAE; TSINetwork ETF Rating: Aggressive; Market cap: $35.0 million) tracks the performance of the largest publicly listed UAE companies.


Financial Services account for 39% of its assets, while Telecommunications (18%), Real Estate (21%), Industrials (10%), and Energy (5%) are other key segments.


The ETF has a portfolio of 40 stocks; the top 10 holdings make up a high 74% of its assets....

We think that most Canadian investors should hold the bulk of their portfolios in high-quality, dividend-paying Canadian stocks (or ETFs that hold those stocks). We also feel that virtually all Canadian investors should have, say, 20% to 30% of their portfolios in U.S....

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....