Friday, September 14, 2012

MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard credit card


Investing through ETF is one way to earn passive income through investing.  However, everyday, you spend using your credit card.  A great way to save and earn more is purchasing grocery and gas through the best no-fee cash back rewards in Canada.  
In a promotion with  Great Canadian Rebates, a truly Canadians to save earn money back through purchases items online.  Great Canadian Rebates is offering $60 rebate by signing up the credit through the website.  You will need to go to the link above, sign up and click on the MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard link.


Sign up for the MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard here.  You must go through Great Canadian Rebates link in order to earn $60.  You must not exit the browser and come back to sign the link.  See Great Canadian Rebates for more details.

Here is the summary of the Benefits for using the MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard:

  • Up to 5% cash back on qualifying net retail gas and grocery purchases for the first 6 months
  • Up to 3% cash back on qualifying net retail gas and grocery purchases thereafter
  • Up to 1% cash back for all other qualifying net retail purchases
  • Around-the-clock fraud protection
  • Free online access to your credit card account
  • 1.99% annual interest rate on balance transfers, access cheques and deposits for the first 10 full months
  • No annual fee  free additional cards you’ll start to see the benefits right away
  • Once your cash back totals at least $50 at the end of a monthly billing cycle, they’ll automatically mail you a cheque - it’s that simple
  • MBNA is now part of the TD Bank Corporation
Only the first $600 spent each month will earn 3% cash back rebate paid on gas and grocery purchases All other purchases thereafter are eligible for 1% cash back.  Other purchases other than gas and grocery will earn you 1% cash back.  Notice that Walmart SuperCenter also earns you 3% even with non-grocery items!

Friday, July 13, 2012

iPhone 5 is coming soon...



Investing in technology sometime can be difficult, however, investors who invested in Apple (AAPL) are in some happy campers.  iPhone 5 rumored to be coming out sometime in August to November of this year.  I can see the stock is going back to the 52 week high level.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Sell in May, Go Away (Review)

Today is the first day of June.  It has been a rough ride for both TSX and S&P500.  Sell in May, go away seems to work for this year again.  TSX and S&P500 has fell more than 6% for the month.  Bond yields have been the lowest in years.  The situation seems to be not getting any better.  The strategy is to continue to hold U.S. and Canadian Bonds in the up coming bonds.  Also starting to buy few index along the way from time to time.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Sell in May, Go Away II

Today, two significant loses in TSX proven Sell in May, Go Away is true again.  I have sold many during the month of April and now watching the stocks go down in triple digits in number of days.  I will keep watching on Euro market and see if they are in a recovery mode.  However, I will see that the US market will outperform the Canadian market this year.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Sell in May, Go Away

Many of you might already heard of the phase - "Sell in May, Go Away!".  During the summer months, many stock buying and selling activities might be slowing down due to vacation season.  Stock prices usually go lower due during the summer season.  Hence, many investors usually sell during the month of May and buy back the stocks on the month of September.  I usually follow this theory as I am selling some of my holdings throughout the month of April ahead of summer season.  I will update on this website to see if the trend is correct for this year.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Canada's Interest Rates remain unchanged at 1 per cent

The Bank of Canada has left the key overnight interest rate unchanged at one per cent, but signals to remove monetary stimulus may become appropriate.  It is also signals that interest rate may rise by the end of the year.


What should we do with the low interest rate environment but anticipate interest rate interest.  If you have variable rate, you should consider to pay off as fast as it can.  Keep the fixed rate mortgage as it will not change the rate during the length of the contract.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Five reasons to love dividend growth investing

Five reasons to love dividend growth investing - An excellent article talks about investing in dividend stocks

Click Globe and Mail article to read.  Enjoy.

Source:  From Globe and Mail Newspaper

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Nasdaq crossed 3000

Nasdaq composite index crossed 3000 for the first time in more than 10 years. Apple stock contributed a lot of gains to the index. Looking at the chart, the next resistance point is around 3200 dated around May 26, 2000. There are about 200 points to go. All indexes seem to have a uptrend except for TSX might be falling due to falling commodities prices.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Bank of Canada maintains interest rate at 1%

Bank of Canada maintains interest rate at 1% and remain at record low interest for the reminder 2012 calendar year. During these low interest rate , dividend investments are very important to the gain of the whole portfolio. Bank stocks ETF has a good track record of paying dividend out and it is good to include some dividend paying ETF in your portfolio.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Dow Jones Industrial Average 13000

It seems that DJI didn't really cross above 13000 on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. We will have to see today if it can actually test the mark again. I proceed to sell some more DJI index to take some profit off if it fails to cross above 13000 again.

Friday, February 17, 2012

S&P reaching to a resistance level

S&P raises 3 points today and it is reaching a resistance level. 1370 is the next resistance level. Next Monday, both US and Canada will have a day off, next week will be an important week to examine whether S&P can pass through the resistance level. However, my view is that it will not pass through the resistance level and I might take some profit off in some US securities next week.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Oil is raising...

The headline for this morning is that Iran cuts oil exports to six EU countries. The countries affected include Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal. The price of oil is trading up this morning, hence, it will certainly have an impact to already a weak economy. The sold positions last week indicate it is a good move and will continue to monitor technical graphs to the major indexes. Canadian bonds seems to be a good investment for these uncertainly environment.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Not looking too good...

There are several factors indicated the market is heading lower:

1) Several indexes did not pass through the resistance from last year high around April, May or July 2011.

2) Greece issue and what do to do next

3) Have a health gain in late 2011 and early 2012.

I just sold some mutual funds on DJI, S&P and Financials.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

S&P 500 - iShares S&P 500 Index (IVV)

S&P 500 has reached 1350 area previously reached on July 2011 (Twice - Double Tops), April and May 2011 (couple of times). It is again trying to pass above these resistance points, so far it has not been successful. SMA 15 is above SMA 50 and both FSTO and SSTO are in their high of the sessions. I will wait until later in the day for selling some of my positions in S&P 500.

IVV is the ETF for S&P 500 traded in NYSE.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Waiting for Greece and Debt Management

The market is very quiet in these few days as we waiting for Greece to reach a deal on reforms in exchange for a new bailout. No major upside or downside in both TSX or DJI. I am positive the bailout could be reached. What do you think about the Greece bailout situation or the Euro Debt Crisis? Are Canadians tackling their debt? What are some of the ways you do to manage your debt?

Monday, February 6, 2012

Stock Market Environment where Interest Rate is Low

In this market where the interest rate is low. Every income you gain is so important to your overall portfolio performance. The bank interest pays so low just to keep at the bank account. Dividend stocks or funds don't always have to be outside of the registered account because of it's tax friendly asset class.

Encana (ECA) pays good dividend, under $18CND is a good entry point, currently is at around $20.

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation (SC) pays close to 2.5% dividend, a good stock to invest in an uncertain environment. Currently trading around $40.

Declaimer: I do not own both of these stocks at my portfolio.

Friday, February 3, 2012

ETF SOCL - Global X Social Media Index Fund

Many of you including me are very interesting owning Facebook (FB) shares in the future when IPO is set to be sometime around May of this year. However, we might not able to obtain Facebook shares. One way to obtain Facebook share is to own Global X Social Media Index Fund (SOCL) in Nasdaq. Over the last 5 days, it has gain 7 percent anticipate Facbook IPO. As a disclosure, I do not own any SOCL shares.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Bank of Nova Scotia could raise $1.65B with share offering

Today, Bank of Nova Scotia will offering sale of its share priced at $50.25. It is a smart move by Bank of Nova Scotia as it seems to be in a good market right now to issue more stocks. Same as Facebook announced it will too issue IPO in a few months of this year. It is one the most talked about IPOs of the year.

BNS is $50 has a strong support and it is a good entry. If it fell below $48, it will turn into a negative trend for the stock. BNS has increase dividend from $0.49 to $0.52 last year on April 1, 2011.

More news from National Post

Monday, January 30, 2012

After 3 consecutive Down Days for Financial Sector

After felling to pass through the high since July 2011. It has fell 3 consecutive days for financial sector stocks. Today, it continues to fall further. The Fast Stochastic Oscillator (FSTO) is falling close to 0. It seems we have reached a mini over-sold position. A light rebound might occurs in the near future for short term sellers.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

More news on Interest Rate

Feb announced US Interest Rate will continue to stay at historical low until late 2014. Possibly going to stay low until 2015. Hence, stock market gain as the result late afternoon. This gives dividend paying stock even more attractive. I am now pausing further selling of financial companies. The financial companies as a group could pass the July 2011 high and test the double tops occurred on April 2011 and June 2011 respectively.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Financial Services Sector (Part II)

It is testing July 2011 high point and it seems that it will be down day today for the financial sector. I will assume that we are reaching the over bought area and some profit taking will take place today and coming days.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Financial Services Sector

I noticed with the recent uptrend for the Canadian Banking Section starting beginning of December 2011, It is already increase well above 5% from the low point of Nov 25, 2011. It is about to test the high point for the month of July of last year. I am about to sell some of my positions around this area and see if it pass through the resistance mark.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

50 and 200 Day Moving Averages 101

One of the most effective and widely used technical trading tools is the simple moving average. The two averages that I looked at are 50 days and 200 days simple moving averages (SMA).

When I trade indexes, I usually look for those two averages and see how they perform over the year. A quick way to see whether it is a good entry point is to see whether the 50 days cross over and above the 200 days moving averages and via versa.

You can use google financial and other charting tools to do a quick technical analysis chart.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Calymore Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF

Calymore Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF is a basket of Canadian Financial companies in one ETF. It pays $0.04 per month as dividend. The ETF last paid on December 23, 2011 for $0.04 every share you own.

52 week trading in the range of $5.86 - $7.34. I am comparing this to TD Monthly Income fund that also pay monthly income. For 1 year performance, TD Monthly income fund outperform the ETF over 10%. (TD gain 0.79% while FIE lost 9.82%).