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What is a Reasonable Rate of Return?
April 14, 2016
Revenue

What is a Reasonable Rate of Return?

Richard Croft

There has been a lot of debate lately about the expected long term performance of equity markets. It comes down to a simple question; what is a reasonable rate of return? To paraphrase Bob Dylan, the numbers; they are a changing! Ask most investors and they will tell you that double digit returns are possible, if not probable....

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8 years ago
Has the Tide Turned for the Canadian Economy?
April 01, 2016
Index Options

Has the Tide Turned for the Canadian Economy?

Patrick Ceresna

The last two months have dynamically changed the narrative toward the Canadian economy. Over those two months, the markets have substantially shifted, including: 15% rise in the Canadian Dollar from its $0.68 lows to its current levels around $0.78. 27% rise in oil prices from their lows below $30.00 to around $38.00 today. 16%...

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8 years ago
Generating Income With a Limited Risk
March 24, 2016
Revenue

Generating Income With a Limited Risk

Jason Ayres

Selling or writing options can be a great way to generate cash flow as a compliment to a diversified investment approach. In general, the strategy involves selling a call or a put and getting paid to take on the obligation to either deliver or purchase the underlying shares at the strike price agreed upon. The objective of the...

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8 years ago
Volatility’s Impact When Hedging Market Exposure
March 16, 2016
Protection

Volatility’s Impact When Hedging Market Exposure

Richard Croft

Volatility represents the underlying stock price fluctuation, not the price trend. The degree of fluctuation can vary whether a stock’s price trend is bullish and advancing, bearish and declining, or remains in a steady range over time. Historical volatility can be calculated based on a stock’s actual past trading...

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8 years ago
Will Gold Glitter Again – Part II
February 29, 2016
Index Options

Will Gold Glitter Again – Part II

Patrick Ceresna

With gold having a strong start to the year and a solid 20% off its 2015 lows, the bulls vs. bear’s arguments have taken center stage. Let’s review both arguments. Bear Case for Lower Gold Gold is an inflation hedge and performs poorly in deflationary times. The most commonly referenced example is the 20-30% decline in gold...

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8 years ago
Tales from a Reluctant Gold Bull
February 29, 2016
Volatility

Tales from a Reluctant Gold Bull

Richard Croft

In an effort to provide full disclosure I am not now nor have I ever been a raging gold bull. I am not convinced that gold provides crisis insurance or any kind of hedge against economic Armageddon. Personally if the global economy collapses under the weight of a currency crisis (note: the collapse of paper currency is the...

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8 years ago
The Canadian Bear Market Roars!
February 04, 2016
Bearish Outlook

The Canadian Bear Market Roars!

Patrick Ceresna

I find a sense of irony that investors need to be losing 20% or more on their equity investments before the economic experts feel they can officially conclude that it is a bear market. It makes it almost meaningless to react to the news as often the worst part of the portfolio damage has already occurred. None the less, we find...

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8 years ago
Markets Down… Volatility Up!
February 01, 2016
Bearish Outlook

Markets Down… Volatility Up!

Richard Croft

Worst start for equity markets since 2008! With more to come if you believe the prevailing view on Bay and Wall Street. Simply not enough “blood in the streets” according to the bears. Which itself is an interesting take since no one can provide clarity as to why markets had such a terrible start to the year. Aside from the...

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8 years ago


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