STOCKCHASE

(A Top Short Jan 11/10. Down 17.63 %.) This was a losing strategy. It was right up against one of his technical breakpoints at the time.

2011-04-15

BUY

24.490

John Hood

Include banks, insurance and mutual find companies. Would suggest balancing off the financials with another ETF.

2011-03-11

PAST TOP SHORT

23.080

(A Top Short Jan 11/10. Up 10.72%.) S&P Financial ETF.

2011-01-28

PAST TOP PICK

22.830

Terry Shaunessy

(A Top Pick Sept 14/10. Up 3.85%.) Still likes.

2010-12-02

Comment

22.210

Gavin Graham

S&P Financial ETF. An excellent way to get exposure to financials if you are underweight.

2010-09-16

TOP PICK

22.340

Terry Shaunessy

S&P Financials ETF. This is a contrarian play. He is switching from gold ETF's (XGD-T), which has had a nice run, to this one for a 4th quarter rally. Looking for it to go to $24-$25 and the XGD to settle back down to $23ish.

2010-09-14

BUY

21.860

John Hood

Broadly based. Would look at it if it is optionable.

2010-06-08

TOP SHORT

21.820

S&P Financial ETF. Because the index has moved so far and has such poor Fair Market Value, kind of correction is going to give 25%-35% downside in the banking sector.

2010-01-11

TOP PICK

21.950

S&P Financial Index. He suggests buying a Call on this. Thinks the Canadian banks actually might have a very good quarter. If that is the case, there could be a rally in this. He is recommending the Jan $22 Call Option at $.60. If it goes to $1-$1.20 take your profit and run.

2009-11-20

DON'T BUY

18.730

iUnits S&P Financials. The only issue he has with this and the HBP Financials Bull+ E.T.F (HFU-T) is that they are dealing with the Capped Financial services Index. There are some financials there that he is not fond of. He would be inclined to take a couple of banks that look attractive and hold them instead. This could include Royal (RY-T), Toronto Dominion (TD-T) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS-T).

2009-07-09

BUY

19.810

iUnits S&P Financial. Includes many other assets besides banks. This is a good index for tracking Canadian banks. If you believe in an economic recovery, this could be not a bad place to be leveraged. It can also be a defensive play. 4%-5% in dividends plus 1% or 2% growth is not a bad return.

2009-06-26

Comment

18.260

Brooke Thackray

Financials. With rising unemployment, there could be more credit card debt being unpaid debt that hasn't hit them yet. The good signs of economic recovery is not convincing enough. However Technicals look good. Broke through a bottom at about $14 and has gone through resistance of about $18. Seasonally, banks can do okay at this time of year. Could end up in a trading range in this area.

2009-05-05

PAST TOP PICK

17.140

Jeff Black

(Top Pick Oct 6/08 Down 3.38%) Would still hold it. There is still profitability. You are paid to wait with dividends. Thinks it will re-test its lows.

2009-04-30

Comment

14.940

(Marked Call Minute.) Dividend (XDV-T) or Financials (XFN-T). Prefers the financials because the XDV is 60% financials anyway.

2009-03-27

Comment

14.170

Covers the S&P/TSX financial services Index. Banks make up the predominant share of the index along with insurance companies. You could also look at the Claymore Equal Weight Bank & Lifeco (CEW-T), which is probably a more pure play on banks and lifecos. They're going to give you a very similar exposure. If you like financials this is a good way to play them. Preferred shares might be a better way to play the banks in the short-term.

2009-03-13

DON'T BUY

12.020

Financials ETF. The financials are in the eye of the storm and until you are really comfortable until how safe the market itself is you don't want to get into these kinds of things.

2009-03-05

Comment

14.150

Gavin Graham

Financials ETF. Relatively early cycle play when and if we get an upswing. Stimulus that is being thrown at the market and the economy should eventually help.

2009-02-13

BUY

14.190

Steve Carlin

Great instrument to get exposure to all the banks. If you hold it for 5 years, you will be fine. He would prefer directly owning Toronto Dominion (TD-T).

2009-01-23

BUY

15.470

Brendan Caldwell

A reasonable way to play the financial sector. Relatively low fees. His own preference would be to own the bank stocks directly and get the dividends.

2009-01-19

BUY

15.930

Michael Smedley

Financials ETF. This gives you the safety of the index. A good time for taking a long-term point of view.

2008-12-31

Comment

15.560

Covers the market cap weighted index. Banks are predominant. If you like financial services, this is a good way to play it. You could also use the Claymore Equal Weight Bank & Lifeco (CEW-T).

2008-12-12

TOP PICK

21.550

Jeff Black

Our financials are global. Good dividend stream, although not going to rise.

2008-10-06

BUY

21.280

Gavin Graham

Likes financials.

2008-09-17

DON'T BUY

22.740

Vinny Catalano

In general, financials on a medium and longer-term basis is a place you don't want to be. You should be aware what banks are exposed to.

2008-08-07

PAST TOP PICK

43.830

(A Top Pick July 11/07. Down 16%.) Financials have a ways to go before they tune around. 3.5% yield so you can continue to Hold. Believes in the financials, but it could be a while.

2008-07-02

Comment

50.450

Based on the Canadian S&P/TSX Financial sub index, which is a quarterly rebalance and market cap weighted. If you believe in the financial market place in Canada, this is a good place to be.

2008-05-02

PAST TOP PICK

50.120

(A Top Pick Dec 15/06. Down 6.7%.) Sold his holdings in Feb 07 when banks were not moving as well as the rest of the market.

2008-01-04

BUY

43.450

(Straight up EFT on financial) Take a shot at it right now. Yield is very good, about 2.5%. This is the area that will really lead the market. As good a time as any

2007-10-19

TOP PICK

54.450

40% is in the financial services. Have been hurt quite a bit recently because interest rates are moving up. Expect it will outperform the Canadian market over the next six months.

2007-07-11

Comment

55.210

Real estate and financials, Canadian exposure only.

2007-06-18

PAST TOP PICK

56.280

Then 53.68 Sold Likes to stay with the leaders, the financials are fading back. He worries that the Canadians are going to follow the Americans.

2007-06-01

PAST TOP PICK

55.740

(A Top Pick Dec 15/06. Up 3.8%.) Slow and steady.

2007-04-17

TOP PICK

53.680

Tracks a basket of Canadian financial stocks. Chart shows that it is hardly moving, but it is moving and in an uptrend.

2006-12-15

WAIT

48.400

Bruce Campbell

Great way for an individual to get exposure to the whole financial sector. You would get about 2 third banks and a third insurance. Can see a return in the low double digits in the next year, which would be better than the market. As an entry point, wait for a seasonal bottom in the next three weeks.

2006-09-11

HOLD

46.750

Bruce Campbell

Likes the sector. It is now back to break even for the year. In a melt down, to break even is not a bad thing.

2006-06-08

BUY

45.390

Would look at this as an investor.

2005-11-22

WEAK BUY

39.400

Don Vialoux

A good way to be in the financial services sector. Two periods of seasonal strength for this sector. End of September to end of December and the end of February to end of May. Earnings picture has some concerns. Bank of Nova Scotia is good but other banks are less attractive. Loan losses may rise and narrowing interest rate spreads.

2005-02-10

PAST TOP PICK

38.080