Industry News

Big mergers give small comfort to large cap stocks

The announcement that pharmaceutical giant Merck was bidding $41.1 billion US for rival Schering-Plough — the second blockbuster merger in the pharmaceutical industry in recent weeks — suggests the opportunity that may exist in stock investing, as valuations on beaten-down stocks attract takeover bids. The pharmaceutical industry has not been immune to the global downturn […]

By Mark Noble |March 9, 2009

4 min read

Briefly: “RBC portfolio targets risk-averse clients” and more news

RBC Asset Management has launched the RBC Select Very Conservative Portfolio, which is aimed at risk-averse investors who are not content to settle for the low returns offered on cash investments. The fund description admits that it will seek only “modest capital growth” while focusing on capital preservation. The portfolio has a target asset mix […]

By Staff |March 9, 2009

1 min read

Briefly: “Scotia buys Cayman asset manager” and more news

Scotiabank has announced it has bought a controlling interest in Five Continents Financial Ltd., a global asset management firm in the Cayman Islands. “We see significant opportunity for growth in the Caribbean and Central America and this partnership in the Cayman Islands further demonstrates our commitment to growing and investing across the region,” said Dan […]

By Staff |March 6, 2009

2 min read

Jovian steps up presence in ETF business

Jovian Capital continues to expand its influence in the Canadian exchange-traded fund (ETF) market, with the purchase of a 50% ownership stake of independent investment firm Hahn Investment Stewards. The move is important, because it creates a strategic alliance between one of the country’s largest ETF providers and a pioneer in their usage. Use of […]

By Mark Noble |March 5, 2009

3 min read