How a Falling Loonie Affects US Equity ETFs
Over the last year the loonie has declined significantly relative to the US dollar: the currencies were at par early last February, but the Canadian dollar closed under $0.92 US on January 10. That has...
View ArticleCurrency Exposure in International Equity ETFs
My last post explained that Canadian investors are exposed to currency risk any time they hold US equities, even if their holding is an ETF or mutual fund that trades in Canadian dollars. In my...
View ArticleWhy Currency Hedging Doesn’t Work in Canada
In the last two years, Canadian ETF providers have finally launched US and international equity ETFs that do away with currency hedging. Yet the strategy remains hugely popular: the hedged versions of...
View ArticleUS Investors in Canada: What to Watch For
Index investors in the US have always had it easier than Canadians, thanks to lower costs and more choices. Unfortunately, if those investors move to Canada, their plight becomes much more difficult....
View ArticleThe Couch Potato Goes Abroad
Andrew Hallam’s Millionaire Teacher remains one of the best introductions to index investing. When I reviewed it three years ago, I stressed that Andrew writes with authority because he follows his own...
View ArticleDecoding International Equity ETF Returns
How have international equities performed over the last year? If you research the returns of index funds in this asset class, you may wind up with more questions than answers. I recently received an...
View ArticleStepping Back From the Hedge
We’re not quite in “northern peso” territory yet, but the Canadian dollar has taken a beating over the last couple of months. And any time there is a significant move in the markets—whether it’s...
View ArticleTaxable Consequences of Norbert’s Gambit
Norbert’s gambit with the Horizons US Dollar Currency ETF (DLR/DLR.U) is often the most cost-efficient way to convert Canadian dollars to US dollars, or vice-versa. Our series of white papers focused...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Is It Time to Hedge Currency?
Q: “I use non-hedged ETFs for US and international equities, which worked out well as the Canadian dollar tanked. But the loonie is now so low that I wonder if it makes sense to move to the hedged...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: When Should I Use US-Listed ETFs?
Q: Under what specific circumstances would it be better to hold a US-listed ETF if there is a Canadian equivalent? For example, when it is preferable to use the Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) rather...
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