Buy these bond funds for steady income

Article Excerpt

The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate to 0.25% in March 2020. That was meant to support economic activity after COVID-19 hit. Whether the bank continues to hold that rate steady, cuts it further or raises it depends on Canada’s economic growth and employment levels. Meanwhile, today’s low interest rates make bonds unattractive. While another drop in rates would do little to enhance the return for bondholders, a rise would push down their returns. It’s why we caution even our conservative investors against holding bonds. However, if you need stable income and want to hold those investments, these two ETFs offer lower fees and high-quality holdings. Each is a buy. ISHARES CORE CANADIAN SHORT-TERM BOND INDEX ETF $27.93 (Toronto symbol XSB; buy or sell through brokers) mirrors the FTSE TMX Canada Short-Term Bond Index. You pay a low MER of just 0.10%. That FTSE index tracks investment-grade government and corporate bonds with one- to five-year terms. The ETF holds 469 bonds; the average term…