Commodity prices have now rolled back most or all of their gains of recent years. Stocks of resource producers are arguably pricing in a whole lot worse, with some retreating to levels not seen since the last cycle. Read More

It’s clear that the turn toward socialist-oriented solutions is now becoming reality. US authorities are in full socialization mode, where the capitalist model is being thrown out of the window. Look at the actions, not the words. The more irresponsible a company or individual has been during the past 10 years, the better its chances of being saved. Even the grotesque US automakers will be bailed out, for the nth time. Read More

For those who have exposure to this Virginia-based bank with a multi-century presence in the Old Dominion, the dividend is just one more bit of evidence that its cash, assets and liabilities are solid. Read More

The idea behind our specialty retailer trade was to buck the general market negativity and instead focus on a select group of well-branded companies with a strong focus on youth buyers. Although the group isn’t entirely immune to seasonal and post-seasonal spending cuts, this is evidence that select retailers aren’t doomed and could surprise the markets. Read More

China announced a USD586 billion stimulus package Nov. 9, an amount equal to nearly a fifth of the country’s GDP. Global markets reacted with initial glee before turning negative in the face of discomforting economic news. Read More

The Federal Reserve’s October 2008 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices found what many companies have already been saying: Banks are less willing to lend, and they’re tightening credit standards. Read More

This month's High Yielders are ARC Energy Trust and Great Lakes Hydro Income Fund. Read More

October was one of the most turbulent months in recent memory for the financial markets. Canadian securities were hit hard, but we've since seen some recovery. First-rate Canadian trusts and high dividend-paying corporations are still deeply undervalued, so the best course of action is to stick with those that continue to perform well as businesses. Read More

We saw a number of distribution cuts in October, but these trusts are cheap enough to rally following such action. Trusts converting to corporations early are the exceptions. We also provide the latest 2009 domestic economy outlook from the Conference Board of Canada and its indications for our neighbors to the north. Read More