Industry News

Metals, resource funds roared back in March

Investors in precious metals funds enjoyed a golden age of double digit returns in March, more than making up for poor performance in February, as these funds closed out the first quarter with a chart-topping month, according to preliminary data from Morningstar Canada. “Precious metals prices again ascended in March and have by and large […]

By Steven Lamb |April 4, 2006

3 min read

Bank executive blasts insurance prohibitions

RBC’s chief operating officer says Ottawa should ease the “bizarre” rules that forbid Canadian banks from selling insurance in branches. In a speech on Monday in Montreal, Barbara Stymiest, the former head of the TSX, called the regulations unreasonable and not in the best interests of clients. “This is not about better service and it […]

By Doug Watt |April 4, 2006

3 min read

March fund sales expected to be $3.8 billion

The RRSP season ended on a high note for the mutual fund industry, with IFIC estimating preliminary net sales for March of between $3.5 billion and $4.1 billion. That’s down from February, when net sales were $4.9 billion, but up from March 2005’s total of $3.4 billion. “The preliminary numbers are a credit to the […]

By Doug Watt |April 4, 2006

2 min read

Briefly:

The new federal minister of finance is asking Canadians what they want out of his first budget. In a press release, Jim Flaherty said the Conservative government will stick to its five key platform issues, but that keeping these promises would require cuts elsewhere in the budget. “Canada is enjoying one of the longest periods […]

By Staff |April 3, 2006

16 min read