Search found 249 matches

by dusty2
27 Jan 2007 20:05
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Loblaw (Symbol-L)
Replies: 321
Views: 80716

I used to like my local Loblaws, although it charged a bit more and the sales weren't that great, it was a nice, kind of classy, place. Lately it's decided to sell t-shirts and lawn chairs and it's become a dumpy store. Now, I go to Dominion. Why Loblaws is determined to compete with a real dump - Walmart, I don't understand. They blew it - big time - and they should fire some management.
by dusty2
27 Jan 2007 19:55
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Banks gouging Canadians
Replies: 76
Views: 2458

This is typical of NDP thinking. They don't consider the fact that ATM machines cost money to buy, service, store, fill etc. It's like their new goal of a minimum wage of $10/hr, that also has to be paid out of revenues, that might not be affordable for the business owner. Next they'll be saying that bottled water should be free, since it's just water.
by dusty2
06 Jan 2007 16:09
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Writing off Condo Costs??
Replies: 29
Views: 2251

I think that the price of condos have gone up, but the rental rates haven't followed. This is because, with all the condos being built, the apartment vacancy rate has gone up and the rental rates have gone down. A lot of renters have bought condominiums.
by dusty2
04 Jan 2007 22:43
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Can we trust Paper GOLD?
Replies: 17
Views: 1823

When you buy a gold or silver certificate, the metal is stored for the buyer, in a vault - so it's 100% safe. The only problem is that a storage fee has to be paid, usually annually. Storage fees can really eat into any future profits. Of course, the more gold that's bought, the higher the fee.
by dusty2
02 Jan 2007 12:48
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: STOCKS or MUTUAL FUNDS?
Replies: 51
Views: 4427

Since you're 18 you also have plenty of time to buy stocks - such as banks - which provide steady growth and dividends, which can be re-invested. You might hit a home-run with bio-fuels, but the chances are they'll go nowhere.
by dusty2
31 Dec 2006 22:34
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Looking for the "Holy Grail" of Investment Returns
Replies: 14
Views: 1510

In Canada, probably the 'holy grail', of investing, for about the last 25 years, has been the big 5 banks. Anyone who bought them and stayed with them has done well. Good dividends, growth and steady performance - even in a bear markat.
by dusty2
31 Dec 2006 17:01
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Tech support miracles: they do occur
Replies: 38
Views: 1452

These day's it seems that the smartest thing to do is to to buy a new product, when something breaks, particularly technical products. But, it also applies to cars, real estate and many other things. Prices drop, better features come along, money is best invested in new products, it seems.
by dusty2
20 Dec 2006 22:17
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: 2006 Results?
Replies: 96
Views: 13122

Anytime you can get 10 - 12% , or more, in a year is great. Perhaps the area which made the most profit, this year, is the most likely to take a hit, next. Look at income trusts, big money producers that, even a Conservative, western-based, government finished. Perhaps, real estate next year or gold will be the big story.
by dusty2
18 Dec 2006 22:50
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Charities - overhead vs programs
Replies: 190
Views: 33916

What a lot of the lottery sellers do, with the scratch and win tickets, is to find out the difference, in the box, at the bottom of the ticket, which reads either 'try again' or the prize won. They rub it with a pin, to remove the covering, but keep it hidden and separate the winners from the rest. It's a easy scam, almost undetectable.
by dusty2
18 Dec 2006 16:20
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Selling Canadian and buying US stocks
Replies: 7
Views: 1081

I don't know what's so great about U.S. stocks. I see the U.S. current account deficit came out today at an all-time high - or low - of $225 billion for the quarter. Not to mention over $400 billion spent on Iraq -so far - with almost nothing to show for it. George Bush still has two more years to screw things up. Canada has a balanced budget and the oil sands.
by dusty2
12 Dec 2006 16:59
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Charities - overhead vs programs
Replies: 190
Views: 33916

Charities are like religions in a number of ways. First, they rely on donations to pay their salaries. So, they have to sell something that appeals to the public. Both, represent, supposedly, 'good' , tax-free, causes.
by dusty2
11 Dec 2006 17:05
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Is now a good time to buy Canadian banks?
Replies: 26
Views: 4987

The dividend the banks provide, almost works as insurance, that they won't go down much. Because, as they drop, their yield rises. I heard, today, that David Dodge is positive on bank mergers. That got a lot of people's attention. But bank stocks aren't cheap and they're priced with a lot of expectations in mind.
by dusty2
08 Dec 2006 17:34
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Gold
Replies: 1077
Views: 191887

Is that Buffet quote supposed to be clever? It sounds stupid to me. Something a child would say. We dig up steel, diamonds, silver etc., just like gold - they all have different values.
by dusty2
07 Dec 2006 17:01
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Stocks getting too high?
Replies: 22
Views: 3380

I think banks should do well next year, although a lot of people are counting on lower interest rates and bigger bank profits. Which is a fair gamble.
by dusty2
05 Dec 2006 17:02
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Stocks getting too high?
Replies: 22
Views: 3380

Stocks getting too high?

160 point rise last week, 78 the other day, 47 today, I think things might be getting out of hand, when people are getting too rich, too easily. One 'expert; said that he's got 60% cash, waiting for a correction. So far, he's been looking bad. This has been a good example of why it's wise to own some stocks.
by dusty2
04 Dec 2006 17:11
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Gold
Replies: 1077
Views: 191887

It costs a lot of money to produce gold - and costs a lot of lives, as well. Unlike paper, it's finite. Actually, I think you could say that, buying a bond, is a lot like storing cash.
by dusty2
02 Dec 2006 16:12
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Gold
Replies: 1077
Views: 191887

You could say about the same thing for paper money. 'It get's printed in Philadelphia, people stand around guarding it, people pretend it's valuable, then we burn it'.
by dusty2
01 Dec 2006 17:06
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Gold
Replies: 1077
Views: 191887

There was another person interviewed today on Business Report, saying gold is going to $2500 - $3500. He wrote a book called the U.S. Bubble Economy.
by dusty2
28 Nov 2006 22:45
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: housing BUST
Replies: 1957
Views: 241163

I think the 'running out of land' argument is true, if it applies to the cities.
by dusty2
25 Nov 2006 13:36
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Gold
Replies: 1077
Views: 191887

There was a man on the Business Report, Thursday, that said that just by inflation alone, gold should be selling for $2000 an ounce and silver for $150 an ounce. He said that this year it's going to happen.
by dusty2
21 Nov 2006 22:53
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Gold
Replies: 1077
Views: 191887

Seems like it's been the Canadian $ that's lost ground, lately. It was at, about 90 cents, now it's about 87. After today's 190 point rise on the TSX, stocks are looking good. Although, gold hasn't done too much.
by dusty2
19 Nov 2006 16:32
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Do you buy this?
Replies: 21
Views: 2743

So, if oil goes ballistic, then oil stocks are still good. Then again, maybe that causes a recession and the market dives. Then again, when oil goes ballistic, maybe they start pumping a lot more oil. So it's tough to predict.
by dusty2
18 Nov 2006 17:43
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Do you buy this?
Replies: 21
Views: 2743

In the next couple of weeks, the banks will report their quarterly earnings, which are predicted to be great - this usually lifts the market a bit. I don't see any recessionary clouds on the horizon. Inflation is so low it's almost deflation and interest rates are low, as well.
by dusty2
11 Nov 2006 21:28
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: I HATE MONEY!
Replies: 18
Views: 2362

Money is easy to hate, when you have enough, but go broke and it's tough to get it back again. It's what gives people their freedom. Take it away and you have to seek help from others. Although, most people never actually see their money, just read about how it's invested, and take for granted that it exists. All in all I think it's a great invention.