ishares
ISHARES CANADIAN SELECT DIVIDEND INDEX ETF $31.65 (Toronto symbol XDV) lets you hold 30 of the highest-yielding Canadian stocks. The ETF also considers dividend growth and payout ratios to make its selections.
The weight of any one stock holding is limited to 10% of the fund’s assets....
The weight of any one stock holding is limited to 10% of the fund’s assets....
We still recommend that most Canadians hold the bulk of their portfolios in dividend-paying Canadian stocks, or ETFs that hold those stocks. (And that includes our #1 ETF pick for 2022, see column at right.)
Meanwhile, though, investors could also hold stocks or ETFs in other market segments to add growth and diversification to their portfolios....
Meanwhile, though, investors could also hold stocks or ETFs in other market segments to add growth and diversification to their portfolios....
ISHARES MSCI TAIWAN INDEX FUND, $66.96, 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 22.5% of assets....
The fund’s largest holding is Taiwan Semiconductor at 22.5% of assets....
The major Canadian and U.S. stock markets have moved back up since their initial COVID-19 drop. Nonetheless, we think that if you can afford to stay in the market for several years or longer, now is still a good time for new buying. We see ETFs as one way for you to profit from the continuing rise, while at the same time cutting your risk.
The best of these funds offer a diversified group of stocks and charge you low management fees....
The best of these funds offer a diversified group of stocks and charge you low management fees....
ISHARES S&P/TSX REIT INDEX ETF, $19.63, is a hold. The ETF (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) lets investors tap all 19 Canadian real estate investment trusts in the S&P/TSX REIT Index. Investors pay an MER of 0.61%, and the REIT fund gives you a 2.8% yield.
The ETF’s top holdings are Canadian Apart....
The ETF’s top holdings are Canadian Apart....
The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate to 0.25% in early 2020. That was to support economic activity after COVID-19 hit. Whether the bank continues to hold that rate steady, cuts it again or, more likely, raises it depends on Canada’s economy and employment levels.
Meanwhile, today’s low interest rates make bonds unattractive....
Meanwhile, today’s low interest rates make bonds unattractive....
ISHARES INDIA 50 ETF, $49.62, is a buy. The ETF (Nasdaq symbol INDY; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) tracks the Nifty 50 index—the 50 largest, most-liquid Indian securities. It began trading in November 2009.
The top holdings are Reliance Industries (conglomerate), 10.6%; HDFC Bank, 8.8%; Infosys (information technology), 8.5%; ICICI Bank, 6.7%; Housing Development Finance, 6.6%; Tata Consultancy (information tech), 4.9%; Kotak Mahindra Bank, 4.0%; and Larsen & Toubro (conglomerate), 3.8%....
The top holdings are Reliance Industries (conglomerate), 10.6%; HDFC Bank, 8.8%; Infosys (information technology), 8.5%; ICICI Bank, 6.7%; Housing Development Finance, 6.6%; Tata Consultancy (information tech), 4.9%; Kotak Mahindra Bank, 4.0%; and Larsen & Toubro (conglomerate), 3.8%....
Some of the most prominent luxury goods retailers in the world are held in the iShares MSCI France ETF’s portfolio.
LVMH, the largest luxury goods retailer, owns brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Moet & Chandon, Krug, and Bulgari.
Kering (Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Bottega brands), Hermes, Essilorluxottica (Ray Ban), and L’Oreal are some of the other luxury goods retailers held in the portfolio.
Luxury goods retail sales dropped sharply in 2020 with some estimates indicating a 25% decline compared to 2019.
The closing of non-essential shopping in many important luxury retail locations as well as the disruption of leisure travel and accompanying duty free sales, contributed to the massive hit to luxury goods sales.
With consumers forced to stay at home, online retail sales of luxury goods also increased sharply with an estimated 209% increase compared to the previous year.
Still, between 2016-2019, the market for luxury good had been growing at a solid rate of 8% per year; and reached an estimated global annual value of around $300 billion in 2019, with the single largest market, the U.S.
The fastest-growing markets in the world are in Asia, with the Chinese market expected to make up more than 10% of global luxury sales by 2025.
Unsurprisingly, the top luxury firms continue to do well....
LVMH, the largest luxury goods retailer, owns brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Moet & Chandon, Krug, and Bulgari.
Kering (Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Bottega brands), Hermes, Essilorluxottica (Ray Ban), and L’Oreal are some of the other luxury goods retailers held in the portfolio.
Luxury goods retail sales dropped sharply in 2020 with some estimates indicating a 25% decline compared to 2019.
The closing of non-essential shopping in many important luxury retail locations as well as the disruption of leisure travel and accompanying duty free sales, contributed to the massive hit to luxury goods sales.
With consumers forced to stay at home, online retail sales of luxury goods also increased sharply with an estimated 209% increase compared to the previous year.
Still, between 2016-2019, the market for luxury good had been growing at a solid rate of 8% per year; and reached an estimated global annual value of around $300 billion in 2019, with the single largest market, the U.S.
The fastest-growing markets in the world are in Asia, with the Chinese market expected to make up more than 10% of global luxury sales by 2025.
Unsurprisingly, the top luxury firms continue to do well....
The May 2017 election of Emmanuel Macron as France’s new president promised a turnaround for the French economy. Despite some early successes, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed progress on the economic front. But the long-term outlook for the economy is positive as it continues to recover in a post-pandemic world.
France is home to several of the top luxury goods companies in the world....
France is home to several of the top luxury goods companies in the world....
SHARES CHINA LARGE-CAP ETF, $40.28, is a hold for safety-conscious investors. The ETF (New York symbol FXI; buy or sell through brokers) tracks the 50 largest, most-liquid Chinese stocks. Investors pay a high 0.74% MER. The units yield 2.1%.
Top holdings for the $4.5 billion fund are Meituan Dianping (group buying/food delivery), 9.7%; Tencent (Internet), 9.0%; Alibaba (e-commerce), 8.9%; China Construction Bank, 5.4%; and Wuxi Biologics, 4.4%.
Chinese stocks are down lately as the government has introduced strict new regulations around fintech stocks, data sharing among tech firms and online platforms and, most recently, online learning firms.
These surprise regulations directed at private Chinese companies are aimed at promoting social policies and imposing more government control over various sectors....
Top holdings for the $4.5 billion fund are Meituan Dianping (group buying/food delivery), 9.7%; Tencent (Internet), 9.0%; Alibaba (e-commerce), 8.9%; China Construction Bank, 5.4%; and Wuxi Biologics, 4.4%.
Chinese stocks are down lately as the government has introduced strict new regulations around fintech stocks, data sharing among tech firms and online platforms and, most recently, online learning firms.
These surprise regulations directed at private Chinese companies are aimed at promoting social policies and imposing more government control over various sectors....