Protecting your portfolios is important – but so is capturing growth. When markets enter a volatile period, how should investors balance the risk-reward tradeoff? In this episode, Danielle Neziol and Chris Heakes discuss an innovative factor-based strategy known as Low Volatility that only invests in companies with low beta values. Listen in as our experts look under the hood of BMO’s custom suite of low volatility ETFs, and see which investment product is right for you. Danielle Neziol is a Pro...
Nov 01, 2021•16 min
Tensions continued to mount at Rogers Communications this week, as Chairman Edward Rogers sought to remove the independent directors who blocked his attempt to oust CEO Joe Natale. Mark Raes, Chris McHaney and Alfred Lee offer insights into this bizarre tale of family in-fighting, while giving investors investment strategies to help navigate the chaos. Our experts also discuss their particular take on Low Volatility stocks, China’s relative value, the status of President Biden’s infrastructure b...
Oct 28, 2021•33 min
As the US earnings season starts to kick-off, markets have begun to show a preference for quality and fundamentals over sentiment and momentum. So, in today’s episode, Mark Raes, Chris Heakes and Alfred Lee dig into the first round of financial statements to see if the results are strong enough to weather macro headwinds out of China, the Federal Reserve and recent inflation data. Our experts also look at currency hedging strategies, the natural gas shortage in Europe, and ways to monetize the c...
Oct 21, 2021•27 min
Markets remained uneasy this week, as investors looked for greater certainty around near-term economic growth. Will the reopening trade continue? Or has the market cycle finally turned? In today’s episode, Mark Raes, Chris McHaney and Matt Montemurro discuss multiple factor-based ETFs that investors can use to implement their perspective, while also discussing some long-term opportunities available to investors. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is the Head of Product at BMO Global Asset Manag...
Oct 14, 2021•33 min
Unrest continued to mount in bond markets this week, as the cracks in China’s real estate bubble grew wider and inflation expectations remained stubbornly high. How should investors manage this risk-off moment? For the fixed income side of the portfolio, Mark Raes, Chris Heakes and Matt Montemurro offer key satellite positions to gather yield and protect downside. Our experts also discuss premium yield, base metals, and small and mid cap equities. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is the Head ...
Oct 07, 2021•21 min
With markets paring back from all-time highs this week, investors may want to take a closer look at their sector allocations – including Energy, Technology and US Banks. Which areas will thrive amid higher inflation? And what exposures could help investors gather income in spite of the volatility? Mark Raes, Chris McHaney and Alfred Lee answer these timely questions in today’s episode, while naming targeted ETFs that provide investors with unfettered access to sector-specific indexes. Our expert...
Sep 30, 2021•26 min
Alarm bells rang out across global markets this week, as a major Chinese real estate developer failed to meet its regularly scheduled coupon payment. Investors were left wondering: Is this China’s “Lehman Brothers” moment? In this episode, Mark Raes, Chris Heakes and Matt Montemurro discuss the latest developments of the Evergrande story, and whether the ripple effects will reach Canadian shores. Our experts also talk about bond positioning, low volatility as a tool for riding out market risks, ...
Sep 23, 2021•30 min
With the federal election just around the corner, many investors are starting to re-evaluate the political risks in their portfolios. To this end, Kevin Prins, Alfred Lee and Chris McHaney explore the potential for a minority government, and what it could mean for positioning the Canadian side of an investment portfolio. Our experts also discuss the prospect of higher US corporate taxes, whether the current volatility is seasonal or cyclical, and how inflation concerns can be eased on both the f...
Sep 22, 2021•32 min
Canadian banks continued their bullish streak through the third quarter, as loan loss provisions surprised to the downside. In this special episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Chris Heakes and Daniel Stanley dig deeper into the positive results and other macro factors, including the Delta variant, inflation concerns and potential rate hikes. Our experts also offer multiple ways to gain exposure, focusing on the BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (ZEB) and BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB). Daniel St...
Sep 21, 2021•25 min
What should you do when the stock market goes haywire? Do you wait out the turmoil, or do you sit on the sidelines until it’s over? It’s a trick question, really. Professional investors know that options strategies can split the difference, collecting steady income AND stopping your losses if the markets do eventually plummet. However, what most investors don’t know is that you can get this advanced strategy in a single tool – the BMO Premium Yield ETF (ZPAY). Listen in as host Danielle Neziol a...
Sep 20, 2021•18 min
Investors seemed jittery this week as two storm clouds lingered over markets, including the Federal Reserve’s potential tapering of asset purchases and the literal bad weather caused by Hurricane Ida – the latter of which led to closures of key oil refineries in the US Gulf. In today’s episode, Kevin Prins, Chris McHaney and Matt Montemurro discuss how fixed income and equity markets are responding to the changing environment, offering numerous trade ideas to help investors stay on the right sid...
Sep 02, 2021•37 min
Canadian banks continued to beat market expectations handily this quarter, reporting stronger than anticipated earnings on the back of robust trading and wealth management. The news proved especially timely given that BMO ETF recently lowered its management fee for Z-E-B, an Equal Weight Banks ETF, from 0.55% to 0.25%. In today’s episode, Chris Heakes and Matt Montemurro discuss the outperformance of the “Big Six,” as well as the fee reductions, rotation back to long duration, Delta variant, eme...
Aug 26, 2021•28 min
Less than a week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dissolved parliament to call for a special election, Canadian investors are weighing the potential impact on markets. What would a majority Liberal government mean for the future of the oil industry? How does the Conservative Party propose to manage the country’s growing fiscal deficit? And are any or all of these outcomes already priced into valuations? In today’s episode, Mark Raes, Chris Heakes and Chris McHaney break down the economic impl...
Aug 19, 2021•33 min
With the reopening trade running out of steam, investors must turn their attention now to less obvious drivers of market outcomes, such the billions of dollars currently flowing into the repo market, the growing institutional demand for ESG investments and the recent inflation reports. In today’s episode, Kevin Prins, Alfred Lee and Chris McHaney dive into these underlying trends, offering investors strategic insight into where the market is headed, and which ETFs can help them position for the ...
Aug 12, 2021•39 min
As the summer wears on, both equity and fixed income markets have been heating up with volatility. Investors looking to cool off can turn to the longer-term trends that extend beyond the next 12 to 18 months – including Clean Energy, Autonomous Tech, Space Tourism and ESG bonds. In this episode, Danielle Neziol, Matt Montemurro and Chris Heakes explore the potential upside of these Megatrends, and how they can be accessed through BMO’s Innovation ETF suite. Our experts also delve into recent tre...
Jul 29, 2021•30 min
The impact of the Delta variant remains uncertain, with some investors moving back into bonds to wait out the volatility. Will the market rebound? Or will the optimism of recent months fade as we move deeper into the third quarter? In this episode, Alfred Lee and Mark Raes take stock of the problem, and offer multiple trade ideas to improve your client portfolios, discussing everything from Industrials to REITs, Premium Yield and Innovation ETFs. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is the Head o...
Jul 22, 2021•32 min
CPI numbers registered above expectations again this week, stoking fears that inflation is not as transitory as the Federal Reserve claims. How should investors weigh the potential for higher prices against the upside of an economic reopening? In this episode, Chris Heakes, Alfred Lee and Market Raes discuss how best to approach bonds and equities, and then dive into more specific areas – such as gold, dividends and US bank earnings. Our experts also respond to Advisors’ questions on China, geno...
Jul 15, 2021•33 min
A lack of production cuts from OPEC drove oil prices higher this week, with some analysts predicting that crude prices may once again reach $100 per barrel. In this episode, Mark Raes, Chris McHaney and Matt Montemurro explain why an equal weighted approach to Energy can help investors manage risk, especially as the economy continues to re-open and demand for oil increases. Our experts also explore fixed income assets, REITs, Quality stocks and the benefits of a Covered Call Bank exposure. Read ...
Jul 08, 2021•22 min
In this episode, Danielle Neziol interviews Brian Belski about his famously bullish views on the U.S. equity market. Listeners will also hear his outlook for the next 18 to 24 months, his read on the Federal Reserve, and why he chose to create a new U.S. All Cap Equity strategy to invest across all market cap exposures – including large, mid and small. Danielle Neziol is a Product Specialist at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Brian Belski, Chief Investment Strategist...
Jul 06, 2021•20 min
The Federal Reserve soothed markets this week when Chairman Jay Powell announced the central bank’s intention to keep interest rates low until 2023. The announcement poured cold water on inflation concerns, yet uncertainty still lies ahead. Should investors find safe havens to wait out the volatility? In today’s episode, Chris Heakes, Alfred Lee and Mark Raes discuss which ETFs can help investors take some risk off the table and settle in for the long haul, focusing on BMO Low Volatility Canadia...
Jun 24, 2021•31 min
Looking for an income solution with little to no credit risk? In this episode of Inside Investments, Rob Butler speaks with Director and Portfolio Manager of Exchange Traded Funds, Matt Montemurro, about the advantages of investing in the $500 billion Canadian MBS market, and the significant structural differences from its U.S. counterpart. Listeners will hear how BMO Canadian MBS Index ETF (ZMBS) has democratized the asset class for investors, providing direct access to a strategy previously on...
Jun 23, 2021•18 min
Although G7 countries issued a collaborative statement against China, the political maneuvering failed to rattle investors who were more focused inflation, interest rates and the ongoing economic re-opening. The big question now is: what sectors and themes will benefit most from a return to normalcy? In today’s episode, Mark Raes and Chris McHaney explore multiple ways to build the trade, including through dividends, low volatility and market cap exposures. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is...
Jun 17, 2021•29 min
Canadian banks sustained their runaway performance in the second quarter – but can the upward trend continue? In this special episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Chris Heakes and Daniel Stanley dig deeper into the positive earnings surprises amid the broader economic context, including inflation concerns, potential rate hikes and the continued reopening. Our experts also offer multiple ways to gain exposure, focusing on the BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (ZEB) and BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZW...
Jun 15, 2021•31 min
In a historic moment for international markets, the G7 group of countries have agreed to implement a global minimum tax rate of at least 15%. But how will these reforms impact corporate earnings? In today’s episode, Chris Heakes, Alfred Lee and Mark Raes address the ripple effects across markets, and offer an update on other areas of the market – including emerging market bonds, innovation-themed investing, gold and more. Our experts also debate investing in Canada versus the United States, as t...
Jun 10, 2021•32 min
As restrictions ease across Canada, macro conditions remain encouraging – and ever-changing. The bond universe is normalizing; innovation stocks, which looked unstoppable in 2020, are facing higher costs of capital; options layers are being stymied by lower volatility; and Canadian banks are continuing to win the reopening trade. In this episode, Chris McHaney, Matt Montemurro and Mark Raes provide an update on the above strategies and discuss potential scenarios for the months ahead. Our expert...
Jun 03, 2021•32 min
With a strengthening loonie comes the promise of greater returns on CAD-hedged as well as Canadian ETFs. In this episode, Chris Heakes and Alfred Lee analyze some of the top trends that will shape the domestic stock market, including a healthy economy, an attractive investment-grade bond universe, and a positive outlook for the Big Five banks. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is the Head of Product at BMO Global Asset Management. He is joined on the podcast by Chris Heakes and Alfred Lee, Por...
May 27, 2021•31 min
Looking beyond the vaccine hype, the healthcare industry remains a bright spot of the current market, offering growth-oriented investors access to companies on the frontier of medicine. In this episode, Alfred Lee and Danielle Neziol examine opportunities around genomic innovations and other long-term drivers, taking a closer look at multiple ways to benefit from these new and exciting trends, from a sector-based approach with ZHU, ZUH and ZGEN – our new genomic-specific ETF. Danielle Neziol is ...
May 26, 2021•23 min
As volatility continues to grip equity markets, investors may find it challenging to look beyond the short-term uncertainty to the calm on the other side. Even so, our experts, Chris Heakes and Chris McHaney, believe the best course of action is to trust in the fundamentals of sound investing. They recommend longer-term bets such as clean energy, as well as small caps and preferred shares for tactical moves to stronger ground. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is the Head of Product at BMO Glo...
May 20, 2021•26 min
Fears of rising inflation are throwing equity markets off balance as investors play out the full extent of a reopening trade. With prices ticking up faster than expected, Mark Raes, Chris McHaney and Alfred Lee deliver context for the rotation into Value and Industrials, and offer key trade ideas to efficiently gain exposure. Our experts also dive into the yield spread between 10 and 30-year Treasuries, delivering a thoughtful strategy for the bond side of the portfolio. Read the episode summary...
May 13, 2021•31 min
The statements from the Fed this week have perhaps put inflation risk at the top of investor concerns. However, our experts, Chris Heakes and Matt Montemurro, point out that Advisors still have time to build protections in their client portfolios through a range of prudent strategies, including U.S. TIPS, base metals and other cyclical sector allocations, accessible through Canadian equity solutions. Read the episode summary. Mark Raes is the Head of Product at BMO Global Asset Management. He is...
May 06, 2021•32 min
