Manulife Investments, a division of Toronto-based Manulife Asset Management Ltd., has reduced the risk ratings of five of its mutual funds. Manulife Diversified Strategies Fund’s risk rating is now “low” (down from “low to medium”); Manulife Special Opportunities Class is now rated as “medium” (down from “high”); Manulife China Class’ risk rating has moved from […]
Toronto-based First Asset Management Inc. has completed the conversion of the closed-end First Asset Canadian REIT Income Fund into an exchange-traded fund (ETF). (The fund was originally launched as a TSX-listed, closed-end fund in November 2004.) Advisor units are available for First Asset Canadian REIT ETF, which invests primarily in Canadian real estate investment trusts […]
Toronto-based Sprott Asset Management LP has launched two new mutual funds: Sprott Enhanced U.S. Equity Class Fund and Sprott Global REIT & Property Equity Fund. Sprott Enhanced U.S. Equity Class Fund provides exposure to U.S. large-cap equities with a focus on reducing downside volatility. It will be available mainly in U.S. dollars. John Wilson, CEO, […]
London, Ont.-based Highstreet Asset Management Inc. has assumed portfolio-management responsibilities for AGF Dividend Income Fund. AGF Investments Inc. was the fund’s original portfolio manager. The investment objective and strategy for the fund remains the same. Fred Steciuk, senior vice president of Highstreet and portfolio manager, will lead the fund’s portfolio-management team. Highstreet provides discretionary money-management […]
Calgary-based Aston Hill Financial Inc. subsidiaries Aston Hill Asset Management Inc. and Aston Hill Capital Markets Inc. are proposing to reorganize three funds. The asset managers propose to change three funds – Aston Hill VIP Income Fund, Aston Hill Oil & Gas Income Fund and Low Volatility Canadian Equities Income Fund – to open-ended funds […]
A new exchange-traded fund (ETF) now is available from Toronto-based FT Portfolios Canada Co. (First Trust Canada). First Trust Tactical Bond Index ETF is meant to replicate the performance of the NASDAQ IBIS Canadian preservation index CAD TRSM, net of expenses. The index looks to construct a fixed-income portfolio with exposure to several fixed-income asset […]
Calgary-based Mawer Investment Management Ltd. has introduced Mawer Global Bond Fund, which is designed to provide investors with diversification by way of currencies, countries, yield curves and unhedged currency positions with a historically low correlation to equities. Managed by James Redpath and Michael Crofts, the fund will invest exclusively in investment-grade government and government-related bonds. […]
Toronto-based Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. has launched a new balanced mutual fund, Franklin Bissett Monthly Income and Growth Fund, which focuses primarily on the Canadian equities and fixed-income markets; the fund’s exposure to U.S. and global markets is limited to 30% of assets under management. The fund’s monthly income comes mainly from Canadian and U.S. […]
Toronto-based Invesco Canada Ltd. plans to combine 12 of its mutual funds on Aug. 7: Invesco Select Canadian Equity Class with Trimark Canadian Class; Invesco Pure Canadian Equity Class with Trimark Canadian Opportunity Class; Invesco Canadian Equity Growth Class will merge with Invesco Canadian Premier Growth Class; PowerShares Tactical Bond Capital Yield Class with PowerShares […]
Vanguard Investments Canada Inc. of Toronto is proposing to broaden the diversification of six exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to all-capitalization benchmarks. These ETFs include: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets Index ETF; Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-Canada Index ETF; Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia-Pacific Index ETF; Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe Index ETF; Vanguard FTSE Developed ex-North America Index ETF; and […]