Most precious-metal stocks dropped, along with the market, in March 2020. They then quickly reversed that trend to soar for investors, in part because of gold’s appeal as a “safe harbour” in times of economic uncertainty. In fact, in August 2020, gold jumped to over $2,000 U.S....

LOBLAW COMPANIES, $161.79, is a buy. The retailer (Toronto symbol L; Shares outstanding: 306.0 million; Market cap: $49.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.3%; www.loblaw.ca) has gained about 35% in the past year, and recently hit a new all-time high of $164.94.


Loblaw keeps innovating to maintain its growth....

TD Bank cancelled its deal to acquire First Horizon Corp. for $13.4 billion in May 2023. Part of the reason was that U.S. regulators were concerned by lapses in its anti-money laundering procedures. However, TD is making progress in settling this issue, and the bank is also enhancing its compliance systems to prevent further violations....

A: BMO International Dividend ETF, $24.05, symbol ZDI on Toronto (Units outstanding: 20.8 million; Market cap: $500.2 million; www.bmoetfs.ca), offers exposure to a portfolio of high-yield dividend-paying companies in developed markets....

The outcome of CNN’s June 27 debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden seems to have set off a political firestorm in the U.S., and not just between Republicans and Democrats. The debate also seems to have set off a secondary firestorm within the Democratic party, between members who claim the other side of the party should have known about or revealed Biden’s cognitive failings, and those who say his condition is not as bad as it looks.

My advice: don’t waste your time with the endless sniping now underway in the media....

RESMED INC., $191.42, is still a buy. The firm, symbol RMD on New York, helps investors tap the growing market for medical devices used to treat sleep apnea. ResMed’s CPAP (nasal continuous positive airway pressure) devices are also used to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as other respiratory conditions.

The stock dropped on Monday after drugmaker ELI LILLY AND COMPANY, $900.90, (symbol LLY on New York) said it has applied for regulatory approval of its weight-loss drug Zepbound to include treatment of sleep apnea.

Lilly said last Friday that Zepbound sharply reduced the restriction or blocking of air flow in patients with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea or interrupted breathing during sleep....

PINTEREST INC., $44.07, symbol PINS on New York, is a hugely popular social media platform that relies on images to create user interest. For that reason, it holds considerable appeal for some investors.

The users of the company’s site “pin” items they like to their personal pages so that their friends and followers can view their curated lists on subjects such as recipes, clothing, household goods and places to travel....

ANDREW PELLER LTD. (class A shares) remains a buy for long-term gains.

The company, Toronto symbols ADW.A (non-voting) $3.82 and ADW.B $5.05, is Canada’s second-largest wine producer, after Arterra Wines.

Peller last raised your quarterly dividend by 10% with the July 2021 payment....

GENERAL MILLS INC., $63.26, New York symbol GIS, is a hold.

This consumer staples giant is one of the world’s largest foodmakers. Its top brands include Cheerios (cereal), Pillsbury (baking dough), Progresso (soups and salads) and Blue Buffalo (pet food), which it acquired in April 2018 for $8.0 billion.

Higher food prices continue to prompt cost-conscious consumers to switch to private label brands....

BCE INC., $44.31, Toronto symbol BCE, remains your #1 Income Buy for 2024.

The company is Canada’s largest traditional telephone service provider. It has 1.98 million residential customers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces....