Financial Market Volatiliy – Time Heals All

As you may already know, Superstar Investment Corp. proudly supports the London Health Sciences Foundation. Along side all the other amazing members we have worked hard all year to achieve our fundraising goals. It is precisely at this time in the Campaign when we really need the support of our volunteers to mobilize the community to get us to our end goal. Thank you to every one for putting in your trust, your gifts, your energy and work into the advancement of the hospital, the foundation and the campaign.

I am extremely proud to let you know that we have reached:

$181 M towards our $200 M goal!!

Outstanding results because of your support!

To learn more, click here for the new story by CTV.

The Gerald C. Baines Foundation is urging Londoners to match the $1.5-million it is committing to help expand a local cancer research centre.

The foundation announced the funding commitment Tuesday, in hopes of generating a total of $3-million to expand the Gerald C. Baines Centre for Translational Cancer Research, which is part of the Lawson Victoria Research Laboratory.

Dr. David Palma tells AM980 the centre is unique in that it has physicians and researchers working together and sharing ideas.

“What they’ve tried to do is break down those barriers by locating everybody together so you can’t help but work together all the time. We get this cross-pollination of ideas. When the Baines family came forward with an idea of another donation, of course we were extremely ecstatic!”

Dr. Palma is a Radiation Oncologist and Clinician Scientist who has firsthand knowledge of the success of the Baines Centre for Translational Cancer Research. In partnership with imaging scientist Dr. Aaron Ward in 2011, they used $15,000 in seed funding to establish a new research program aimed at developing imaging technology to help better determine the best option for treating lung cancer patients. The success of the initial results led to additional funding of $1-million through other funding agencies.

Read the full story at:

http://www.am980.ca/2016/12/13/local-foundation-commits-to-matching-up-to-1-5-million-for-cancer-research/

Superstar  Investment  Corp . 

Second Quarter Report 2016   

By Azam Abu-Saud,

 

 

Although global capital markets experienced significant volatility in the second quarter of 2016, results for the end of the period showed modest improvement for most asset classes.

 

Markets were rattled in late June when the British electorate voted in favour of leaving the European Union (EU). The surprise results of the “Brexit” vote caused equity markets to drop, losing an estimated US$3 trillion in value over just a few trading days. The British pound and euro declined, while investors sought out perceived safe havens, including gold, stable government bonds and currencies such as the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen. However, once the initial shock of the “leave” result had passed, global markets rebounded into the end of the quarter, with equities recouping most of their earlier losses.

 

Despite the anxiety about the future of Europe, U.S. stocks as measured by the S&P 500 Index finished the three-month period with a 2.5% gain in local currency terms, or nearly 2.8% when expressed in Canadian dollars, while the MSCI World Index rose 1.2% in U.S. dollars, or 1.5% in Canadian dollars, including dividends. Markets in Germany and France remained down for the quarter as investors weighed the referendum result. London’s FTSE 100 Index, however, experienced a surprising turnaround, adding 6.5% in local currency, or 1.4% in Canadian dollar terms over the quarter. The index was led by multinational companies, which are deemed to have less exposure to the domestic British economy.

 

The S&P/TSX Composite Index also experienced volatility through the period, but finished with a solid gain. The Canadian market added about 5.1% including dividends for the second quarter, and 9.8% for the year-to-date, making it one of the top-performing developed markets worldwide. The index’s materials and energy sectors have benefited from rising prices for oil and many other commodities in 2016. Gold-related companies got an additional boost as the metal’s price increased following the Brexit result.

 

Developed market bonds registered positive returns for the period, despite very low – and even negative – interest rates offered in some countries. Government bond yields in the U.S. and Canada neared record lows in response to the EU uncertainty, and prices for higher-quality corporate bonds also rose. The FTSE/TMX Canada Universe Bond Index, measuring the total returns of Canadian government and investment-grade bonds, returned 2.6% for the second quarter.

 

While markets appeared calmer a week after the British referendum, the vote has cast doubt on the future of the EU, and this uncertainty will likely spur more volatility in the weeks and months to come. Nevertheless, the global economy continues to exhibit slow growth, and business conditions in many parts of the world remain supportive. In fact, the Brexit result has increased the likelihood that global interest rates will remain low, encouraging business and diversified investment activity.

 

The speed with which markets turned downward then recovered following the Brexit vote is a reminder of how sudden market sell-offs can reverse themselves fairly quickly, once the initial panic has passed. Rather than joining the retreat, experienced investors can use such episodes as opportunities to buy high-quality businesses at discounted prices, and to diversify portfolios that may have become concentrated over time.

 

Azam Abu-Saud, CFP, CIM, FCSI

President / Superstar Investment Corp.

 

The information in this letter is derived from various sources, including CI Investments, Signature Global Asset Management, Cambridge Global Asset Management, Globe and Mail, National Post, Bloomberg, The Guardian, and Trading Economics. Index information was provided by TD Newcrest and PC Bond, and all quoted equity index returns are on a total return basis (including dividends). This material is provided for general information and is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to compile this material from reliable sources; however, no warranty can be made as to its accuracy or completeness. Before acting on any of the above, please contact me for individual financial advice based on your personal circumstances.

 

U.K. leaving the EU – or “Brexit”
AN HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT-
What should I do? –What should I do?

By Azam Abu-Saud
June 28.2016

In an historic development, U.K. citizens have voted in favour of their country leaving the European Union (EU) by a slim margin of 52% to 48%. The news triggered a dramatic reaction on global financial markets on June 24, with share prices declining sharply and prices for bonds and gold increasing. In currency markets, the U.S. dollar was up against most currencies, while the euro and British pound dropped.

Given the magnitude of these moves, I am writing to provide you with some perspective on these events and what they might mean for us.

Why did the markets react this way?

First of all, the financial community in general believes that the prospect of the U.K. leaving the EU – or “Brexit” – will be harmful to the British, European and global economies and their financial systems because of the increased uncertainty and impediments to trade and finance. With regard to the day-after market reaction, many market participants were simply caught by surprise. Although the vote was seen as too close to call throughout most of the campaign, polling in the final week suggested that the “remain” side had a slight advantage.

What does this mean for investors?

For long-term investors like us, the results are unsettling. However, we anticipate the impact may be limited. This event will indeed lead to greater political uncertainty and financial volatility. Other things to consider include the fact that the referendum result is not binding on the British Parliament, and any separation from the EU will take years to negotiate. Meanwhile, companies continue to do business much as they did before and the global economy continues on its path of slow but positive growth. In fact, many professional investment managers believe the current stock market decline represents an opportunity to buy quality companies at attractive prices.

What should I do?

My advice is to simply stick to your existing long-term investment plan, which is tailored to your individual objectives and time horizon – criteria that are not affected by Brexit. Your plan takes stock market volatility into account by having a well balanced portfolio.
If you have any questions about your investments, please contact me at 519 432 8700. Once again, I thank you for your business and I hope that you and your family have a safe and happy summer.

Sincerely,

Azam Abu-Saud, President,CIM, CFP, FCSI
Superstar Investment Corp.

Chartered Investment Manager, Certified Financial Planner, Fellow Canadian Securities Institute

The information in this letter is derived from various sources, including CI Investments, Signature Global Asset Management, Cambridge Global Asset Management, the Globe and Mail and the New York Times. This material is provided for general information and is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to compile this material from reliable sources; however, no warranty can be made as to its accuracy or completeness. Before acting on any of the above, please contact me for individual financial advice based on your personal circumstances.