This Week in Business

This is Jeff Wareham, with This Week in Business. Another week, and more signs that the U.S. Federal Reserve is determined to add debt far into the ongoing U.S. recovery.  Canadians need to pay attention to this for at least two reasons.  First, it will continue to drive the surging loonie higher, or at least the greenback lower. Second, it will continue to impact the price of commodites, assets, food, and even bonds.  

North American markets stretched higher this week.   Toronto's TSX finished the week at 13792. The Dow in New York finished at 12092. The Standard and Poors index finished at 1311, and the Nasdaq finished at 2769.  Asian and European markets joined the party, ending broadly higher. Oil fell through the week, ending at 89 dollars,   Gold fell as investors seemed less concerned by uncertainty in Egypt well. The loonie recovered to 101.20 against the US greenback.  Events in the Middle East dominated the news, leaving domestic economic news literally in the dust.  Unemployment numbers in Canada were very positive, with a drop in local and national rates.  In fact, the employment level exceeded the high point prior to the downturn.  U.S. unemployment dropped dramatically, but over a million discouraged workers simply stopped looking, and only 36000 net new jobs were created.  Further negative housing data broke, and 3 more U.S. banks failed. Visit my blog at www.am980.ca, follow @beyondfunds on twitter, or tune in to Beyond Funds Market Weekly, Saturdays at 12:30 for further information on the market.

This is Jeff Wareham, with This Week in Business.  visit my blog at www.am980.ca, follow @beyondfunds on twitter, or tune in to Beyond Funds Market Weekly, Saturdays at 12:30 for further information on the market

This Week in Business

This is Jeff Wareham, with This Week in Business.  It was an up and down week for global markets, with investors obviously struggling to decide whether the bull market run will continue, or if it is time for a correction.  Toronto’s TSX finished the week at 13289, down for the week, while the Dow in New York finished the week at 11871.  The Nasdaq was down for the week, finishing at 2689.  Oil finished a rough week at 89.14 per barrel, but the Canadian dollar held it’s own versus the US greenback, off slightly on a weekly basis, but still above par at 100.6 cents US.  Gold got hammered, finishing the week at 1342 per ounce. 

It was an interesting week for technology investors, with numerous changes, planned and unplanned, at the helm of major technology companies.  Energy and mining stocks were hit by falling commodity prices.  Canadian banks held their own in the face of changes to lending regulations.  Global investors watched with interest the meeting between Presidents Obama and Hu Jintao of China.   Tune in to Beyond Funds market weekly Saturday at 12:30, visit www.am980.ca for up to date business news, or follow @beyondfunds on twitter for further market information.

Tune in this week, as | discuss investing like a pension or a hedge fund.

New Time, and Some New Ideas for 2011

Over the next few weeks, I will be reviewing eleven themes for 2011.

1) Yield matters. Look at dividends, corporate bonds, and trusts.

2) Think like a hedge fund or a pension.

3) Don't fight the Fed. Watch the impact of QE II on commodity and bond prices.

4) Avoid any actively managed Canadian Balanced fund. High fees, low returns.

5) Get a second opinion.

6) Consider flow through shares as a planning strategy.

7) Consider ETFs for diversification

8) Invest like a business owner. Buy great balance sheets and great income statements.

9) Use convertible debt in your portfolio.

10) Invest in assets that interest you.

11) Get out of wraps.

Tune in to AM980 Saturday at 12:30, and find out how these ideas can help you in 2011.