Gold prices have skyrocketed as investors both big and small have poured into the precious metal seeking its relative stability amid ongoing trade uncertainty and market risks. Daniel Ghali, director, commodities strategy at TD Securities joins Bipan Rai, director of ETF strategy for BMO ETFs to discuss who’s behind gold’s big moves and where prices could go as the year progresses. This episode was recorded live on April 8, 2025. Show link (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/54bsOfP7M4a6I...
Apr 11, 2025•26 min
Trump’s tariffs have sent stock markets on a roller-coaster ride. Are investors ready for more? In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and host, Erin Allen, dive into the four corrective channels to watch and share ideas for defensive portfolio positioning. Erin Allen is Director of Online Distribution at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, ETFs at BMO Global Asset Management. Recorded live on April 9, 2025. ETFs: • BMO USD Cash Managem...
Apr 10, 2025•16 min
In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and host, Erika Toth, share why they are proceeding with market caution over exuberance and provide a Q2 update on portfolio positioning. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory, BMO GAM. She is joined by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, ETFs, BMO GAM. Recorded live on March 31, 2025. BMO International Dividend ETF (ZDI) BMO MSCI China Selection Equity Index ETF (ZCH) BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB) BMO MSCI USA High Quality ...
Apr 03, 2025•22 min
In this episode, Matt Montemurro, and your host, Acushla Vestby, explore the evolution of the traditional bond laddering strategy—and what the next generation of target maturity bond ETFs has in store for investors. Acushla Vestby is the Managing Director and Head of Structured Solutions & National Accounts at BMO GAM. She is joined on the podcast by Matt Montemurro, Managing Director & Head of Fixed Income & Equity Index ETFs at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. The episode was recorded li...
Mar 27, 2025•18 min
Volatile markets have greeted the tariff regime the Trump Administration appears intent on enacting. Ahead of a key April 2nd deadline for a wave of U.S. reciprocal trade levies to be imposed, Chris Krueger, Managing Director, Washington Research Group, TD Cowen and host Bipan Rai, BMO ETFs Strategist, discuss some of the pressing questions that investors, policymakers and markets are seeking clarity on. This episode was recorded live on March 23, 2025. Show link (Spotify): https://open.spotify...
Mar 26, 2025•26 min
Will inflation’s sudden spike push the Bank of Canada to press pause on rate cuts? In this episode, Bipan Rai, Matt Montemurro, and your host, Erika Toth, examine Canada’s latest CPI print. They also discuss the outcome of this week’s Fed meeting, the outlook for the REITs, and fixed income positioning for the months ahead. The episode was recorded live on March 19, 2025. ETFs: BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCS) BMO High Quality Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZQB) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (...
Mar 20, 2025•26 min
In this episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Bipan Rai, and your host, Skye Collyer, take a deep dive into Canada’s Big Six banks, from first-quarter earnings results to Trump’s tariffs and all the key themes in between. This episode was recorded on March 10, 2025. ETFs: BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (ZEB) BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB) BMO Equal Weight US Banks Hedged to CAD Index ETF (ZUB) BMO Equal Weight US Banks Index ETF (ZBK) BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF (ZWK) BMO SPDR Financials Sele...
Mar 13, 2025•26 min
What are ETF flows telling us? In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and host, Erika Toth, pour over the latest industry data and provide insights on how to navigate choppy markets. Recorded live on March 6, 2025. ETFs: BMO Money Market Fund ETF Series (ZMMK) BMO Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (ZST) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG) BMO Core Plus Bond Fund (ZCPB) BMO Gold Bullion ETF (ZGLD) BMO All-Equity ETF (ZEQT) BMO MSCI EAFE High Quality Index ETF (ZIQ) BMO Mid-Term US Treasury Bond Index ...
Mar 07, 2025•21 min
Trump’s tariffs are coming—the question is: when? In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and host, Zayla Saunders, discuss key dates and the potential real-world implications of a prolonged trade war. Recorded live on Feb 26, 2025. ETFs: BMO Short Federal Bond Index ETF (ZFS) BMO Government Bond Index ETF (ZGB) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG) BMO MSCI EAFE Index ETF (ZEA) BMO Gold Bullion ETF (ZGLD) BMO SPDR Health Care Select Sector Index ETF (ZXLV) BMO SPDR Utilities Select Sector Index...
Feb 27, 2025•18 min
What are the sectoral flows into and out of the Global Industry Classification Standards, or GICS, telling us? In this episode, special guest Michael Arone, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, delve into the leaders and laggards. They also look back at historical trends and ahead for potential opportunities. The episode was recorded live on Feb 19, 2025. ETFs: BMO SPDR Industrials Select Sector Index ETF - Series ETF (ZXLI) BMO SPDR Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index ETF...
Feb 20, 2025•25 min
Looking to invest overseas with ease? In this episode, special guests Johan Ahlberg, Acushla Vestby, and your host, Erin Allen, explore the fundamentals of Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs) and how they give investors greater access to foreign markets. Recorded live on Jan 30, 2025. CDR Directory BMO Smarter Investing Podcast Disclaimers: This podcast is for information purposes. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any par...
Feb 13, 2025•17 min
As the world reacts to Trump’s tariffs, questions mount. In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, Portfolio Manager Jeremy Yeung, and your host, Michelle Allen, explore what this could mean for supply chains and Tech. Recorded live on Mon, Feb 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM, before Trump and Trudeau confirmed a 30-day moratorium on tariffs. ETFs: BMO Global Equity Fund Active ETF Series (BGEQ) BMO Global Innovators Fund Active ETF Series (BGIN) BMO US High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD ETF (ZWS) B...
Feb 04, 2025•30 min
How are today’s hot-button issues impacting markets? In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, share more on their cautiously optimistic outlook. Guided portfolio strategy report Quarterly Fixed Income strategy ETFs: BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB) BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (ZLU) BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF (ZSML) BMO MSCI EAFE Index ETF (ZEA) BMO US Dividend ETF (ZDY) BMO US High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD ETF ( ZWS) BMO Covered Ca...
Jan 30, 2025•23 min
Trump and tariffs and trade, oh my! In this episode, special guest Chris Krueger, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erin Allen, discuss the current state of affairs, Canada’s most likely path forward, and potential impacts to other allies. Erin Allen is Vice President of Online Distribution at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, BMO Global Asset Management, and Chris Krueger, Managing Director, Washington Research Group - Macro, Trad...
Jan 23, 2025•21 min
Is the coast all clear for another banner year for U.S. assets? In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, explore several reasons to consider reorienting exposure. Why you should be a bit wary of the U.S. market in 2025 ETFs 2025 outlook ETFs : BMO US High Dividend Covered Call ETF (ZWH) BMO Covered Call Utilities ETF (ZWU) BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF (ZWK) BMO US Equity Buffer Hedged to CAD ETF – January (ZJAN) Yield curve: A line that plots the interest rates of b...
Jan 16, 2025•17 min
The Canadian ETF industry ended 2024 with a bang—shattering several records. In this episode, Portfolio Manager Matt Montemurro, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Skye Collyer, delve into the trends driving growth and which ETFs dominated flows. The episode was recorded live on Wed, Jan 8, 2025. ETFs: BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG) BMO Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (ZST) BMO Money Market Fund ETF Series (ZMMK) BMO Gold Bullion ETF (ZGLD) BMO US High Dividend Covered Call ETF (ZWH) BMO Cov...
Jan 09, 2025•28 min
Today, we have a special treat for our listeners—an in-depth episode of the Markets Plus podcast by BMO Capital Markets. In this panel discussion, you’ll hear how U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican products may be a way to bargain with important trade partners but it doesn’t diminish the urgent need for North American markets to prepare for potential duties. Listen to Markets Plus Allison Hakomaki is Head, National Agriculture, Public S...
Dec 26, 2024•34 min
In this special episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Bipan Rai, and Skye Collyer take a deep dive into Canada’s Big Six, from recent earnings results and valuations to expectations for 2025. ETFs: BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (ZEB) BMO Canadian Bank Income Index ETF (ZBI) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG) BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB) BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (USD Units) (ZWB.U) BMO Canadian Bank Accelerator ETF (ZEBA) ZEB , total returns as of 2024/11/30: 1 yr: 39.76%, 3yr: 9.6...
Dec 19, 2024•23 min
After another 50-basis point rate cut, the market is weighing where the Bank of Canada’s rate path goes from here. While the latest inflation print south of the border may complicate that trajectory. BMO Portfolio Manager Matt Montemurro, Head of Fixed Income and Equity Index ETFs, joins Bipan Rai, Managing Director, BMO ETFs Strategist, and your host Erika Toth, Director for BMO ETFs, Eastern Canada, to discuss how investors can play the central bank’s direction on monetary policy. This episode...
Dec 12, 2024•24 min
In this episode, special guest, Lu Lin, and your host, Zayla Saunders, take a deep dive into long-short strategies—revealing why they believe this new era of liquid alternatives is game changer for investors. Zayla Saunders is a Senior Associate for Online Distribution at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. She is joined by Lu Lin, Head of Quantitative Investments and Strategic Optimization, at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Tues, Dec 3, 2024. ETFs: BMO Long Short US Equity...
Dec 05, 2024•17 min
As markets prepare for Trump 2.0, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, draw parallels between the 2016 and 2024 economic dynamics, discussing proposed policies, emerging trends, and what to expect going forward. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory for Eastern Canada at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. ETFs mentioned: ...
Nov 28, 2024•21 min
AI, de-carbonization and de-globalization are three of several trends transforming energy infrastructure, heralding a new era of potentially higher growth rates. In this episode, BMO portfolio manager Massimo Bonansinga joins BMO ETFs’ Mark Webster and host Erika Toth to discuss how to access this widening opportunity set. Massimo Bonansinga is Portfolio Manager (Industrials and Utilities), Global Equity for BMO Global Asset Management. Mark Webster is Director, Institutional and Advisory, ETF D...
Nov 21, 2024•30 min
As we approach the end of the year, many investors are thinking about tax efficiency within their portfolio. Tax loss selling can have a significant impact on investment strategy and tax planning. In this special episode, your host Erin Allen, Vice President, ETF Online Distribution, BMO ETFs, joins John Waters, Vice President, Director of Tax Consulting Services, BMO Private Wealth, and Andrew Vachon, Vice President, Product Marketing, BMO Global Asset Management, to dig into this topic and how...
Nov 14, 2024•21 min
Donald Trump has been elected the 47th U.S. president. In this special episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and yournhost, Erika Toth, recap the results and digest the market’s reaction. They also discuss several vital themes to keep an eye on in the months ahead as the new administration takes office. The episode was recorded live on Thursday, November 7, 2024. ETFs: BMO Equal Weight US Banks Index ETF (Ticker: ZBK) BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF (Ticker: ZSML) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (T...
Nov 08, 2024•19 min
In this episode, special guest Paul Riccardella, and your host, Erika Toth, explore the evolution of factor ETFs and delve into all things Quality investing—from the general risk-return profile to the nuts and bolts of MSCI’s methodology, and how the Quality factor holds up in different market environments. BMO MSCI All Country World High Quality Index ETF (ZGQ) BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index ETF (ZUQ) BMO MSCI Europe High Quality Hedged to CAD Index ETF (ZEQ) BMO MSCI EAFE High Quality Index E...
Oct 31, 2024•22 min
In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, explore the humming U.S. economy, while Canada’s faces turbulence in the home stretch of 2024. BMO US Dividend ETF (ZDY) BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF (ZSML) BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index ETF (ZUQ) BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (ZLU) BMO Discount Bond Index ETF (ZDB) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ZAG) BMO Equal Weight Oil & Gas Index ETF (ZEO) BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (ZEB) BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index...
Oct 24, 2024•21 min
Might we see a jumbo rate cut from the Bank of Canada in October? In today’s episode, Portfolio Manager Matt Montemurro, and your host, Mckenzie Box, examine rate cut expectations for the rest of 2024. They also delve into China’s aggressive stimulus measures. The episode was recorded live on Wed, Oct 9, 2024. ETFs: BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZAG) BMO Discount Bond Index ETF (Ticker ZDB) BMO Long Federal Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZFL) BMO Long Provincial Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZPL) BMO...
Oct 10, 2024•18 min
What is currency hedging? And why does it matter? In this special episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Zayla Saunders, take a deep dive into currency strategies, answering your most frequently asked questions and providing two simple takeaways to remember. Zayla Saunders is a Senior Associate for Online Distribution at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Thursday,...
Oct 04, 2024•16 min
In its September meeting, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in four years. How did markets react to the much-anticipated decision? ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, delve into the non-standard size move—touching on notable developments and key themes to watch. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory for Eastern Canada at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, at BMO GAM...
Sep 26, 2024•16 min
In this special episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Bipan Rai, and Daniel Stanley take a deep dive into the third quarter earnings from Canada’s Big Six, breaking down recent results and examining five key economic variables. They also discuss what a normalized yield curve environment could mean for banks. Daniel Stanley is the Co-Head of Institutional Sales and Service at BMO Global Asset Management. He is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds, at BMO Global Asse...
Sep 19, 2024•27 min
