BNS expands in China

Article Excerpt

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $58.08 (Toronto symbol BNS: Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $69.7 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.1%, www.scotiabank.com) has received approval from the Chinese government to buy 33% of a joint venture that will offer wealth management services in that country. This business’s long-term outlook is bright, because rising prosperity in China is giving its citizens more money to invest. Bank of Nova Scotia’s experience selling wealth management services in other parts of Asia should also make this venture more profitable. The bank is still waiting for approval for its September 2011 deal to buy 19.99% of the Bank of Guangzhou; the Chinese government owns the remaining 80.01%. Bank of Nova Scotia will pay $719 million for this stake. Bank of Nova Scotia is our #1 safetyconscious buy for 2013. 2013…