FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST $92.55 (Toronto symbol FDG.UN; SI Rating: Average) — recently accepted a cash-and- stock offer from Teck Cominco worth about $96 a unit. The deal should close in October, 2008.

Note though that unlike most takeovers, Revenue Canada will treat the entire proceeds… Read More

Is it a good time to bargain hunt for Canadian income trusts? According to one school of thought, Ottawa’s planned 2011 removal of income trusts’ tax advantages has unduly rattled investors and spurred unwarranted selling.

That’s the kind of assumption that makes sense, but it’s unlikely… Read More

Two of our long-time recommendations —

Transalta Corp. $37 (Toronto symbol TA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 199.0 million; Market cap: $7.4 billion; SI Rating: Average)

and

Fording Canadian Coal Trust $90 (Toronto symbol FDG.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Units outstanding: 150.0… Read More

FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST $89.55 (Toronto symbol FDG.UN; SI Rating: Average) has agreed to a takeover offer from Teck Cominco for the 80.1% of Fording that it doesn’t already own.

Fording unitholders will receive $82.00 in cash and 0.245 of a Teck class B subordinate voting… Read More

TECK COMINCO LTD. $45.00, Toronto symbol TCK.B, has agreed to buy the 80.1% of FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST $89.90, Toronto symbol FDG.UN, that it does not already own. Fording unitholders will receive $82.00 U.S. in cash and 0.245 of a Teck class B subordinate voting… Read More

BELL ALIANT REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS INCOME FUND $28.28 (Toronto symbol BA.UN: SI Rating: Above average) is the main provider of telephone services in Atlantic Canada. It also serves rural parts of Ontario and Quebec.

In the three months ended March 31, 2008, Bell Aliant’s earnings fell 25.9%,… Read More

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE $58.24, Toronto symbol CM, moved down this week after Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the credit ratings of several bond insurers. These insurers provide CIBC and other banks with guarantees on securities they hold, such as bonds backed by U.S. subprime… Read More

CIBC CANADIAN EQUITY FUND $27.83 (CWA Rating: Conservative) (CIBC Securities, 5140 Yonge Street, Suite 900, Toronto, Ontario M2N 6X7. 1-800-631-7008; Website: www.cibc.com. No load — deal directly with the company.) uses a “bottom-up” approach (using fundamentals such as earnings, cash flow and low debt) to… Read More

The performance of these five large funds run by each of Canada’s big-five banks has differed widely. That’s because they typically have high weightings in certain sectors — most recently Financial services and Resources stocks. Some, like TD Canadian Equity have benefited from a focus… Read More

FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST $71 (Toronto symbol FDG.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Units outstanding: 148.7 million; Market cap: $10.6 billion; SI Rating: Average) is one of the world’s leading producers of metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in steelmaking. It came into existence as part… Read More