A Comment -- General Comments From an Expert (A Commentary)

COMMENT
Markets. On the broader risk asset classes, he expects we are heading into a tough period. Big rallies since March 09 lows have been liquidity driven largely by monetary and fiscal stimulus. Seeing signs of a slowdown in China. Impetus for further monetary stimulus is not really there at this time.
COMMENT
Economy. Once we turned the corner from the 2008 downturn, we've been picking up speed. The emerging economies are continuing to grow. The low interest rate environment will continue to stimulate growth. People are skeptical of the market and are under invested. With all of this, it's a positive environment.
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Market: They are value investors. Commodity markets are signaling there is a strong economic recovery but stock markets are showing a stumbling economy. If the commodities are correct, then the stocks will follow. If the stock markets are correct then commodity prices could have significant weakness.
BUY
Markets have been undergoing a correction since mid-January. There are a lot of events and bad news that is built into the market. Basically, there is a nice bottom forming and we should be going up from here.
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Oil. Global oil demand is at an all-time high and there are no significant sources of supply. There will be short-term back-and-forth movements and the bias has to be upwards.
COMMENT
Gold. In the last couple of months, he has been buying gold stocks. They've all had a good move so hasn't been buying in the last week or so but feels they are going to be a leadership group. Typically gold stocks perform pretty well in the 2nd half of the year. Gold tends to track global liquidity and money supply has been ramping up, especially in the US.
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Ring of Fire in northern Ontario has a number of smaller companies that have been taken out. There will be infrastructure going in, which will make a lot of the smaller companies economic. You might like to own a basket of these companies.
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Market: Deal brokered with Greece is a start. France and Germany are on side, so that is a good thing. US debt ceiling does not affect his investing style much. He is positive that US will do something about their debt. Company earnings are better than he expected. A lot is foreign demand and is also good balance sheets. He is 14’th largest shareholder in TMX group. His concern over time is: are they going to make the firm profitable? The banks and the shareholders want to make it cheaper.
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Percent Dividend Payout: It is a percentage of cash flow. It’s a good indicator. Shouldn’t be above 60- or 70% because of lack of potential to raise it.
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US finances. It is inconceivable that there will not be a settlement of the debt-ceiling crisis. Keep in mind it is only a Band-Aid that is required. Far greater issue is fixing deficits and the rate at which they issue debt to cover it.
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European problems. They may act more slowly and seem not to be as decisive as the US. They have long memories. They saw what happened to Germany in the 30’s. They will come to a solution some time.
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Precious metals. Weaker currencies are positive for precious metals. He is very bullish on precious metals longer-term. In the short term, if there is a solution to the US debt ceiling crisis, gold could sell off and this would be the time to get a full position if you don't have one.
COMMENT

Market. Sovereign risk is the key negative that we are going to have as investors for a very long period of time. Most of the developed world, excluding Canada and Australia, has a weak balance sheet with huge deficit problems. We’ll always have volatility but between now and when the US debt ceiling is raised, it will be exceptionally high. He continues to use options to catch volatility but is also hedging his portfolios.

COMMENT

Copper. This is the most economically sensitive metal and has the highest correlation to industrial production globally. Demand is coming from China, India, etc. and they have not slowed down. Expects it will stay at current levels.

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Market: We are at a point where the ROE’s in Financials have peaked and now they have to come back to the market to raise capital. You are getting diluted as they come back. Gold is acting as a currency. It is a store of value. His adjusted gold price is above $2000. It could to take 3-6 months or another 3 years to reach that level.
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