GLOBAL X COPPER MINERS ETF, $43.85, is a buy. The ETF (New York symbol COPX; buy or sell through brokers; www.globalxfunds.com) lets you track the Solactive Global Copper Miners Index, with 38 global mining and exploration firms....

We think investors will profit most—and with the least risk—by buying shares of well-established companies with strong business prospects and strong positions in healthy industries....

TD BANK, $78.77, is a #1 Buy for 2024. The lender (Toronto symbol TD; Shares o/s: 1.7 billion; Market cap: $137.7 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.2%; www.td.com) has now agreed to a final settlement, including a fine of $3.09 billion U.S., due to lapses in anti-money laundering processes at its U.S....

LOBLAW COMPANIES, $183.77, is a buy. The retailer (Toronto symbol L; Shares outstanding: 303.8 million; Market cap: $55.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.1%; www.loblaw.ca) company operates 1,106 supermarkets under several banners, including Loblaws, Zehrs, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills.


The company is now building a new distribution warehouse just north of Toronto in Newmarket, Ontario....

METRO INC., $85.09, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol MRU; Shares o/s: 222.7 million; Market cap: $19.0 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Yield: 1.6%; www.metro.ca) has now launched its new MOI rewards program across all of its supermarkets and pharmacies in Ontario....

Here are two of our top safety-conscious recommendations. Both have growth ahead. Look for that to spur their share prices and your returns.


IMPERIAL OIL LTD., $101.02, is a #1 Buy for 2024. The company (Toronto symbol IMO; Shares o/s: 523.4 million; Market cap: $52.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 2.4% www.imperialoil.ca) gets over 90% of its production from the oil sands of Alberta....

BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P., $35.19, is a buy. The partnership (Toronto symbol BEP.UN; Units outstanding: 646.0 million; Market cap: $23.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 5.5%; www.bep.brookfield.com) is set to acquire a 12.45% stake in four operational U.K....

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND, $69.38, is a buy. The ETF (New York symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) aims to mirror the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Japan Index.


The fund’s top holdings include Toyota, 5.3%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.2%; Sony Corp., 2.8%; Hitachi (conglomerate), 2.5%; Tokyo Electron (computer chips), 2.3%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.3%; Keyence (sensors), 2.1%; and Shin Etsu Chemical, 2.1%....

CENOVUS ENERGY, $22.57, is a buy for long-term gains. The company (Toronto symbol CVE; Shares outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $41.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 3.2%; www.cenovus.com) reported that its net debt (total debt less cash balances) fell to $4.0 billion in July 2024 from $5.06 billion at the end of 2023.


Under the company’s new shareholder return policy, once net debt falls to $4.0 billion, it will return 100% of its free cash flow (after capital expenditures) to shareholders in the form of higher dividends and share buybacks.


That bodes well for more dividend hikes....

We think foreign stocks can safely make up 10% of a conservative investor’s portfolio. One way is through exchange traded funds (ETFs) with an overseas focus. The best of those ETFs charge you very low management fees yet offer you well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of high-quality stocks.


Here’s a look at four international ETFs we see as suitable for new buying and two others we feel you should continue to hold.


ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF, $44.79, is a buy for aggressive investors. The fund (New York symbol EEM; buy or sell through brokers) is designed to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; it gives you access to some of the world’s fastest growing markets.


The ETF’s geographic breakdown is as follows: China, 27.3%; Taiwan, 19.0%; India, 18.8%; South Korea, 10.0%; Brazil, 4.8%; Saudi Arabia, 3.9%; South Africa, 3.2%; Mexico, 1.9%; Indonesia, 1.6%; Thailand, 1.5%; and Malaysia, 1.4%.


Your biggest stock exposure through the fund is Taiwan Semiconductor (computer chips) at 9.9% of assets; Tencent Holdings (China: Internet), 4.4%; Samsung Electronics (South Korea), 2.5%; Alibaba (China: e-commerce), 2.3%; Meituan Dianping (China: group buying/food delivery), 1.5%; Reliance Industries (India: conglomerate), 1.2%; HDFC Bank (India), 1.1%; and PDD Holdings (China: retail), 1.1%.


iShares launched the ETF on April 7, 2003....