Building Equity in TorontoBuilding Equity in TorontoThis blog tracks the equity-building progress of an amateur investor from Ontario, Canada. Among the topics discussed are comments on the U.S. and Canadian economy, stock markets, dividend-growth investing, stock trading, and money-saving tips.
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The game of "bad" and "good" economic news continues
2008-05-23 04:05:00 The jobless claims data released today and the reaction to this information from the markets and media once again clearly show that: (1) Nobody can and should trust the US government stats anymore; (2) The US administration are totally desperate in trying to save the US economy from falling apart, and every single bit of non-negative news is being used to do that; (3) Hopefully the countdown has More About: News , Game , The Game , Economic , Good
Gas prices keep climbing, and Canadians continue paying for it
2008-05-19 06:54:00 It seems that Canadians pretty much are got used to high gas prices by now. Americans have been scared by the gas prices steadily climbing towards $4 per gallon, with the country average having passed the $3.75 mark for the regular gas lately. Meanwhile, Canadians are already paying over $4.60 per gallon, in part thanks to Canada's federal and provincial governments which have been silently More About: Gas Prices , Climbing , Prices
Canadians are still spending...
2008-05-19 06:26:00 I was shopping with my wife today at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto and, oh boy, I must tell you that Canadians are still very much into shopping, despite all economic worries and troubles with the big southern neighbor. It could be the fact that it was rainy today and there were not too many other things to do for many people, or maybe because it was the middle of the long weekend, but the big mall More About: Spending
Big investment powerhouses are increasing their exposure in energy commodit
2008-05-15 05:23:00 It was an interesting news read from Reuters today about the intention of JPMorgan to increase its involvement in trading of enery commodities. The article titled "JPMorgan to start physical oil trade, eyes $200 oil" states that JPMorgan just announced that it will substantially expand its trading of energy commodities and energy derivatives: JPMorgan will join a growing list of investment banks More About: Investment , Energy , Exposure
The oily bubble is getting blown
2008-05-12 04:10:00 It is really disappointing to observe lately what is going on in the markets, especially commodity markets and energy commodities in particular. Over the last three-four weeks, the amounts of lies and fake news that are being released by the Talking Heads have exceeded all reasonable logical and illogical limits. I started collecting those stories, and I am sure we will hear a plenty more over More About: Bubble
Responding to a question on Questrade
2008-05-11 15:50:00 I received the following message from Ranv about the Questrade RRSP account: I read your blog posting review of Questrade at: http://beit07.blogspot.com/2007/12/custom er-review-questrade-discount.html I'm currently looking to open an RRSP account with a discount brokerage. I've never opened an account with a brokerage before so this will be my first time. I will likely make less than 20 trades More About: Question
Dumb money inflows, artificial rally, volatility, and more...
2008-04-09 04:08:00 The markets over the last two weeks have been quite interesting to observe. In part thanks to the new credit facilities from the Fed, the banks bought more time to settle their issues. And, oh boy, there are still plenty of them. It will take quite a bit of time, maybe even a year or two, to clean up the risky mess associated with asset-backed securities and derivatives. I do not really buy More About: Money , Rally , Dumb
A brief look at U.S. Fed's new credit facility programs
2008-04-06 09:24:00 It appears that the U.S. Federal Reserve, together with top heads from the financial services industry, are working overtime lately to come up with the new creative ways to save the butts of U.S. and global banks. Up until recently, what did we remember from our college economics courses about the Fed’s monetary-policy tools? Each good student knew that there were three key tools that the Fed More About: Credit , Programs
Tips on searching for a vacation package
2008-03-29 08:37:00 As I recently spent several long hours trying to find a good deal for a family vacation at an all-inclusive beach resort somewhere in the Caribbean, I thought I’d share some tips related to this process. These tips primarily apply to Canadians, but generally should work for Americans too. In the discussion below, I will limit my focus on search for vacation packages to resort areas. The first More About: Tips , Vacation , Searching , Package
Nasdaq's stock analysis tool
2008-03-28 05:49:00 Just wanted to briefly share some info about a fairly new and free stock analytical source that I lately like: Nasdaq's Stock Quotes and Research info tool. Of course, there are many other nice info hubs, like Reuters, WSJ's Markets Data Centre, and MSN Money, but Nasdaq's tool scores well in a couple of dimensions. It has several very attractively presented functions, like information on short More About: Analysis , Tool
Troubles with derivatives in the financial sector
2008-03-23 16:56:00 I am still convinced that the credit derivatives bomb is slowly ticking in the financial services market, ready to explode and hit all other sectors of the US and global economies. For some extra recent info on the CDS topic, read Swaps Backers Rush to Prevent 'Credit Event' from the Financial Week publication about the recent developments in credit default swap ("CDS") markets, or read The More About: Derivatives
Last week: picked up little crumbs from the financial sector action
2008-03-23 16:17:00 As I mentioned earlier, I decided to get involved in the financial services sector action earlier this week. A small two-day position that I prefer to retain unidentified gave me a modest net 6% return. It was not that much, taking into account that I got in a bit too late and got out a bit too early, missing out the most wild action on Tuesday in anticipation of the rate cut and on the late More About: Action , Financial , Week , Crumbs
Dividend Achievers with the longest history of consecutive dividend growth
2008-03-23 00:34:00 One of several qualities that a dividend-growth investor is looking for in his/her investment-portfolio candidates is a history of dividend growth. If a company has a long history of uninterrupted annual dividend payments, which are increased every single year, then you can conclude with a high degree of certainty that: (1) one of the managment's top priorities is the company's shareholders and More About: History , Growth , Longest , Dividend
Restaurant prices are not always the indicators of quality
2008-03-22 02:20:00 Not a long time ago, I agreed with my wife that we would start a tradition of dining out on Friday or Saturday nights. I know, I know that this is expensive and that dining out does not match well with the principles of frugal living. However, sometimes we have to make comprises to satisfy the tastes and wishes of our significant others. Anyway, I prepared myself mentally that every week a More About: Restaurant , Quality , Prices
February 2008 blog stats
2008-03-22 01:56:00 To keep track of historical numbers, the summary of 2008 .html">February 2008 blog stats is below: Total visitors = 280 (89% are new): 11% - direct, 78% - through searches, 11% - through other websites. Total posts = 11; Top incoming traffic sites (visits): Google search (213), http://www.mydollarplan.com/ (9). Top visited posts (views): 1. Customer review: Questrade discount brokerage (70); 2. On More About: Blog , Stats
Quick review: Update on the Questrade account
2008-03-20 00:09:00 It's been almost five months since I opened my RRSP account at Questrade Inc. I guess it is time to provide a brief first update on my usage experience. During the five months since the account was opened, I did approximately two dozens of trades with US and Canadian stocks. What are my impressions of Questrade so far? Positives/neutrals: - The market orders are executed instantly; - The limit More About: Review , Update , Quick , Account
Markets this week: A feast in time of plague
2008-03-19 03:06:00 It was quite an action today in the markets, which all started yesterday and continued in the morning in anticipation of the upcoming rate cut by the U.S. Fed. The Fed did not dissappoint most of the more rational market players, cutting its Fed Funds rate by a healthy 75 bps, which brought down the rate to a meager 2.25%. Another contributor to the crazy rally was news on better than expected More About: Markets , Time , Week , Feast
Looks like the Canadian economy is heading towards a recession
2008-03-17 04:23:00 I went to do some shopping here in the Greater Toronto Area a couple of times during the last month and noticed several new things that I did not quite like. I view them as alarming signs that many things in the Canadian economy are not as robust and steady as Canadian politicians are painting them for the general public. What are these signs? First, a number of people in shopping malls went More About: Economy , Recession , Heading
Back to posting
2008-03-15 05:39:00 It's been quite a break for me from posting on this blog. I mentioned before that staying involved and consistent in something for an extended period of time is a big challenge. One needs to be very disciplined and determined to stay in business. They say that in pretty much everything new that you start doing, there are several distinct stages. I guess the last month was my first-stage crisis in More About: Back
Tips on credit card use, Part 3: Canceling your credit cards
2008-02-10 20:03:00 The third part of the credit card series shares a couple of tips on how to properly close your credit card account. Do not cancel your old credit cards with a large credit limit which you have owned for more than five-ten years – doing so causes the deterioration of your overall credit score which partly depends on the average age of your credit account balances. The oldest credit accounts More About: Credit Cards , Card , Credit , Tips , Credit Card
Tips on credit card use, Part 2: Optimized use and safe shopping experience
2008-02-10 19:38:00 This post continues the three-part series on tips related to opening, using, and closing credit card accounts. The second part deals with optimization of credit card use and relevant safety considerations. Credit card use: Always remember that credit card is not the same thing as cash. It is not money, it is just a convenient short-term credit tool that allows you to consolidate your payments More About: Shopping , Card , Tips , Experience
Tips on credit card use, Part 1: Credit card applications and credit histor
2008-02-10 19:22:00 This is the first part of the Credit Card Tips series, which is related to your credit card applications and your credit history. Credit card applications: To build up your credit history, if you do not have one because you are too young or just settled in a new country, first try applying for a local retailer shopping card with a small credit limit. Most major retailers, like Sears or HBC, have More About: Applications , Credit Card
Tips on optimizing and simplifying your credit card use experience
2008-02-10 19:04:00 This post continues the topic of credit cards started in my previous post, 20 valid reasons why you can and should use credit cards. It is not enough to know that the use of credit cards is beneficial to you. You should also know how to use them in the most effective and efficient way, so that your relevant experience is pleasant and trouble-free. In this post, partly based on my experience, I More About: Card , Credit , Tips , Experience , Credit Card
20 valid reasons why you can and should use credit cards
2008-02-10 10:14:00 Credit cards are viewed by many people as something evil, which lures people into bankruptcy, causes them to make impulsive and excessive purchases, and is at odds with sound principles of frugal and financially responsible living. Well, knives serve different purposes as well - one can argue that they can be used to cause property and body damage, as well as to rob and kill people. At the same More About: Credit Cards , Credit , Reasons , Cards
January blog stats
2008-02-10 02:23:00 The late January and early February were busy months for me at work, with more and more new projects lining up ahead. That is the key reason why I can't do regular posting lately during workdays. I usually get back home by 8 or 9 pm, then before going to bed around 2-3 am I usually spend 2-3 hours checking daily market news, looking at stocks and indexes, and reading something from my investing/ More About: Blog , Stats
Trading notes: Feb 4-8, 2008
2008-02-09 22:57:00 I sold my small National Bank of Canada (NA.TO) holding last week for a small 7% gross profit (bought it in November 2007), after having read the 2007 annual report. It is true that the dividend yield was high, and it is true that in the long run the stock will do just fine. I just think that the markets will take this and other banking stocks further lower down, maybe for another 15-25%, before More About: Trading , Notes , 2008
Next week: Another rally attempt or the next round of free falling?
2008-02-09 22:10:00 It was a volatile ride for the markets during the last week. A follow-up of the rally from the previous week never materiliazed as several noticeable pieces of negative news reiterated the story of recession skillfully narrated and promoted by the Bears and their talking heads. On the statistical front, we had poor auto and truck sales in January, a very recessionary number for the January ISM More About: Free , Rally , Week , Round
The annual forecasting powers of the January performance indicator
2008-02-09 21:12:00 Some traders believe that by looking at stock market performance at the beginning of a year, during the month of January , one can get an idea of how the markets will perform over the remaining eleven months. While I am somewhat sceptical about the predictive power of this January Performance Indicator , we can nonetheless look at the charts and see what the magical candlesticks are telling us More About: Forecasting , Annual
The 2008 Super Bowl Indicator tells us the markets may have a positive year
2008-02-04 05:09:00 Well, according to the most recent Super Bowl Indicator , we are to have a high probability of markets finishing higher in 2008. With NY Giants upsetting NE Patriots during the last minutes of the thrilling 17-14 game on February 3, 2008, all Bulls around the world for surely felt somewhat relieved and supercharged, with revived hopes for another "up" year. On a more serious note, while the More About: Markets , Positive
Next week: Indexes at resistance levels and testing of a bear rally
More articles from this author:2008-02-03 19:03:00 It's been quite a week in the markets. We witnessed the first bear rally since the stock markets officially entered into the Bear territory not so long ago. All major indexes finished te week with positive weekly performance figures. Of course, the major factor behind these moves has a two-part series of interest rate cuts by the Fed, with latest 50 bps cut announced during the regular meeting More About: Testing , Rally , Week , Resistance 1, 2 |
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