Although cheap gas is great for motorists, it could wreak havoc with Canada’s energy sector, as well as the market for junk bonds.
Central banks throughout the West last year found   Read More

“The good times are over.” So says Bill Gross, a co-founder of the world’s largest bond company, Pacific Investment Management Co., which is better known by its diminutive, “PIMCO.” Mr.   Read More

National Bank’s (TSX─NA) net income, earnings per share and total revenues all increased in fiscal 2014. Indeed, for all three of these measures of financial performance, 2014 marked the twelfth   Read More

Among U.S.-based mining companies that focus primarily on producing silver, Coeur Mining, Inc. (TSX—CDE; NYSE–CDE) is the largest. It is also a growing gold producer. As with other silver and   Read More

Sometimes when the outlook for growth at a company stalls, it can present an opportunity to scoop up valuable shares at bargain prices. On the other hand, it may be   Read More

Where should you put new money now?

Continue to add to stock funds, emphasizing diversified, conservative offerings. Longer-term, risk-tolerant investors may want to be more aggressive with specialized funds.

We think the   Read More

Hamilton, Ont.-based Ken Norquay is a CMT (Chartered Market Technician) and the author of the behavioural finance book Beyond the Bull which discusses the impact of your personality on your   Read More

 Headquartered in Toronto, Barrick Gold Corporation is the world’s biggest gold producer, boasting a range of operations around the globe. But for Deutsche Bank analysts Jorge Beristain and Wilfredo Ortiz,   Read More

Our investment planning committee regularly examines MDC Partners Inc. (TSX–MDZ.A) (NASDAQ—MDCA). Since we last looked at it at the start of the summer, the shares have risen by 5.1 per   Read More

Watch the mutual funds you buy outside your registered accounts between now and the end of the year. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the hook for taxes if you   Read More

Hardwoods Distribution (TSX—HWD) is doing better than it seems. We expect it to earn more this year and next. It remains a buy for long-term share price gains and dividends.

In   Read More

More companies are buying back their shares. According to The Economist, the companies in Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index spent $500 billion on share buybacks in 2013. The trouble is,   Read More

There’s been little market action in either gold or silver over the past few months, says John Embry, chief investment strategist for Toronto-based Sprott Asset Management.

For one thing, both July   Read More

One of our U.S. Key stocks is Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ—ITRI). While it remains profitable, we’re disappointed with its mediocre performance.

In 2014, Itron is expected to earn $1.65 a share. That’s   Read More

          Saputo Inc. earned more in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. It has raised its dividend for 15 years in a row. The company is also paying a stock   Read More

Americans take pride in what’s called American exceptionalism. They were the first country to practise democracy in modern times. They were the first with no monarchy or aristocracy. America was   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

Last month we wrote about the demise of the one per cent prescribed rate for income splitting strategies. We   Read More

The latest data on U.S. housing starts and retail sales have caused doubts among some observers about the strength of the American economic recovery. In June, housing starts declined 9.9   Read More