Business & Personal Finance

Where to find online data for Canadian Warrants

It can challenging to find information on Canadian warrants.

Here are three web sites that may be helpful.

1.

 

 

 

Canadian Warrants  provides information on all Canadian warrants trading on the TSX, Venture and CNQ exchanges.

The home page features Warrant News, Warrants Expiring, Warrants of the Week as well as Editorials and Commentaries.

On the left side of their home page, click on

Warrants - to obtain Company Name (number of warrants trading, company website and warrant PRs); Company News and Charts; Warrant CUSIP No.; Canadian Insider Info (Cdn Stock Symbol); Exercise Price Cdn$; Price of Common; Expiration Date; Approx Days left until Expiry; Intrinsic Value; Leverage; Canadian Warrant Symbol; Wts per Share; 1 month Historic Volatility Annualized; Warrant Price; Fair Market Value; and Comments.

Data can be sorted by Canadian Warrant Symbol; Expiry Dates; Intrinsic Values; Leverage; Price (Warrant Price); and Volatility.   Other data available are Bargains; Market Cap; Navs for Funds; Insider Transactions; Expired Warrants since 1980; and Daily Prices.

Information - to read articles on warrants.

Education - for educational links.

Broker Information - to find Online Brokerage Firms, Online Commodity Brokers, and Brokers w/Exchanges.

CUSIP Numbers - by Company Name or CUSIP Number.

More information is available at this site.

2.

Free Canadian warrants information can be found at the Financial Post web site.  On the top menu bar at the home page, click on the arrow to the right of Markets and select Market Data.

Under the header FP DataGroupTables, select Warrants (Monthly).

A list of current warrants is provided with the following data:  Company Name, Stock Close, Warrant Symbol, Stock Exchange, Exercise Price, Recent Close, Bid/Ask, Intrinsic Value, Time Value, Leverage, Years Left, and Expiry Date.

Some company names are linked to the FP Infomart's Company Snaphot in FP's Infomart database.  To access this database and its content for free, go to the Toronto Public Library web site.  Click on Articles & Online Research and then select A-Z List of All Databases.  Scroll to Financial Post (FP) Advisor and click on Access Online.  An active Toronto Public Library card is required for access.

 
3.

At GlobeInvestor, both the Historical Price Filter and the Intraday Price Filter allow you to select the Security; i.e. Warrants.  Then, click on Go.

The Historical Price Reports include Company Name, Symbol, Latest Price, % Change as well as As of Current Trade Date for Prev. Close, Dividend Yield, and % Change for Week, Month, YTD, 1 Year, 3 Year, and 5 Year data.

The Intraday Price Reports include Company Name, Symbol, Latest Price, Net Change, % Change, Time, High, Low, Volume, and 52 Weeks High & Low.

 

Target: Aiming for Canada

In 2011 Target bought 189 Zellers stores across Canada and is planning on renovating between 125-135 of them to open Target here in 2013 and 2014. 

Founder George Draper Dayton opened the "Dayton Dry Goods Company" in Minneapolis in 1902.  The store became known for dependable products, fair business practices and a sense of community.  In 1918 Dayton establishes the Dayton Foundation because he believed in creating a better world and setting an example in helping others. It became the Target Foundation in 2000 and reached a giving-milestone in 2007: $3 million per week to various charities and organizations.

After his death in 1938 Dayton's son and grandsons took over the store and grew it into a nationwide retailer and became known as Dayton's. In 1954, to meet the needs of suburban families, Dayton's began expanding beyond Minneapolis to the suburbs. By the 1960's Dayton's leadership decided to create a different kind of store by moving away from the department store format to a new kind of mass-market discount store that would cater to value-oriented shoppers. In 1962 this new store becomes known as Target and it's logo, a bulls-eye. After a decade of growth Dayton's goes public in 1967 with five autonomous divisions: Dayton's department stores, Target stores, B. Dalton Bookseller, Dayton Jewelers and Dayton Development Company.  Over the years Dayton's has continued to expand its Target stores by joining forces with other retailers and continuing to change its product lines and store format to meet the changing needs of its customers.

Target is the second largest discount retailer in the U.S. after Walmart, so it is inevitable that domestic retailers like Canadian Tire, Sears, The Bay and others will feel some pressure when Target first opens its doors in Canada. We can only hope that they will weather the storm.

Read about Target and other retail stores operating in Canada:

 

  

How to save money on everyday items

 

 

 

From time to time  "MoneySense" magazine makes suggestions on how to save money on items or services we purchase on a daily basis. Most of us need to watch our spending and it's quite surprising how much money we waste.  Here are a few ways they suggest that we can save some money:

1.  House brand drugstore items are often the exact same product as national brands.  "Moneysense" added up the cost of 10 house brand items and compared them to equivalent national brands and came up with a savings of $50.00.

2.  According to "Today's Parent" Canadians pay an average of $33.80 per day for daycare.  To save money send your child to a private nursery school such as Montessori.  They provide six hours of toddler care for only $28.14 per day and your child will receive structured learning.  That's a savings of $110 per month.

3. Fruits and vegetables can now be found in pre-sliced packages.  This is a very expensive way to get your daily vitamin intake.  A container of cut-up one-serving container of cantaloupe costs approximately $2.99 while buying a whole cantaloupe provides three times the amount for the same price.  A bag of ready-to-eat salad greens costs around $3.99 while a head of lettuce costs roughly $2.49 and provides more lettuce.

4.  If you like living in the city consider moving closer to work and taking public transit so you don't have to commute. "MoneySense" calculated that a couple could save $570 every month by taking public transit, or almost $140,000 over 10 years!  And remember that you get a tax credit of 15% for a weekly, monthly or annual transit passes.  That's even more money to add to your savings.

5.  If you make one annual extra mortgage payment of $1,500 on a 25-year $300,000 fixed-rate loan at 5%, you'll save $32,489 in mortgage interest in that 25 year period!

6.  If you carry a balance on your credit card and consistently pay the minimum balance, call your credit card company and ask if you can lower your interest rate.  On a $5,000 balance you could save $35 in interest per month which you can use to further reduce your balance.

Take a look at these books for more tips on how to save money:

Beer - our national beverage?

Canadian summers (well and winters for that matter) are the perfect time to pop open a cold beer and enjoy.  Most people would agree that a hot day is made much more tolerable by the addition of a nicely chilled beer.

Beer is big business in Canada.  According to an industry profile of Beer in Canada in Marketline, by 2015, the Canadian beer market is forecast to have a value of over 11 million dollars, which is an increase of 3.5% since 2010. 

As most beer drinkers know, the industry has exploded in the past few years with the introduction of a number of specialty products, including ice beer and the explosion of "microbreweries".  Premium lager is still the beer of choice, accounting for almost 37% of sales in Canada.  Canadian beer drinkers represent almost 8% of the total America's beer market value.

According to the report, the top 3 players in the market (Anheuser-Busch InBev, Molson Coors and Moosehead Brewing) represent a little over 87% of the sales of beer in Canada. 

Want to read more about the history of beer in Canada?  Try one of these titles available at a number of TPL branches:

     

Want to research another industry?  Check out Marketline as well as a number of other databases available through our website and in library branches. 

Summer reading made easy: pick up a business magazine

The lazy days of August are upon us.  The summer must be just about over - a sure sign is the opening of the CNE in a few days. If you are like me, you have cruised through all the hot summer reads and are now thinking about fall and getting back to business.  Magazines are a great source of reading in the summer - the articles are usually quickly and easily digestible.  Why not have a look at some recent issues of business magazines to get a jump on the competition?

Check out some of the interesting articles in some current issues of magazines that the library subscribes to.  Many of these articles are available through the library's databases with your library card, or in hard copy at a branch or excerpted on the magazine's website.

The June/July issue of Canadian Grocer includes an article on a Wiki that Sobeys has set up for consumers to share their knowledge of food or noshing.  Wikibouffe, is in French, but can be flipped into English, includes recipes and food related articles, written by staff and members alike.   This issue of CG also includes articles and ads on new products that you might find in your grocery store come fall.

Forbes, in its August 20th issue, features top schools for entrepreneurs and asks the question "is higher education still worth it?"

The summer issue of Canadian Retailer, is its "tech" issue, and includes features on trends in on-line shopping, the top ten things to know about mobile payments and the future of retail.

Entrepreneur, in its August issue, includes a feature story on lessons in building an app for a small business.  The reporter follows an actual small business through the process. 

Money Sense, in its Summer Retirement Guide, gives you 7 new retirement strategies that you might not have considered - just a few ideas to think about include - reinvent your job, think differently about debt, and reduce your tax bill. 

The Harvard Business Review's July/August issue features the theme "Secrets to Smarter Sales" and has articles on teaching sales, social selling, selling to micromarkets and ideas on how to motivate your sales force.

So enjoy these last long days of summer!

 

 

 

 

 

Three Floors To Success: The Elevator Pitch

What's an elevator pitch? It's a talk about your business with a twist: it's given in a very short amount of time. Think of it as a pitch to a potential client made in the amount of time it would take you to ride up with him or her three floors on an elevator. Before they exit, you need to get them interested enough to want to meet with you again.

Does it sound hard? It is! Here are some resources that will help you.

 

Small Message, Big Impact is an entire book about these 2-3 minute speeches! But the author, Terri L. Sjodin, has a lot to say on the subject.

She explains that the goal of the pitch is to inform and explain. A successful elevator speech could answer these three questions: Why should your listener choose you? Why should your listener choose your company? Why should your listener act now? (p.42)

Sjodin goes into detail on how to build a solid, persuasive case, be creative while doing so, and deliver it well.

Have a look at this great book.

 

Here's The Pitch by Martin Soorjoo has a section on the subject (pages 66-72).
Some of his recommendations:

Keep the elevator speech very simple, focusing on concepts rather than operational and technical details.

Avoid hype - phrases like "world-class" and "cutting edge" can actually have people questioning your credibility.

Tailor your pitch to your audience. Don't just have one canned pitch - be flexible enough to adapt it to various situations.

Here's The Pitch covers many other kinds of pitches as well: sales pitches, investor pitches, pitching to media, e-pitches, and more.

 

Bloomberg Businessweek online has a blog post about The Perfect Elevator Pitch.  The author gives examples of two elevator pitches that didn't work - one delivered by him, and one to him. They are short but telling examples of the importance of being thoroughly and properly prepared for the elevator moment.

 

New Or Used?

New or used? This is a question that seems to be most frequently asked about cars, but people do ask it about just about anything. I've done a bit of reading on the topic and have come across some interesting opinions.

 

Pat Foran, in his new book, The Smart, Savvy Young Consumer, devotes a chapter to the new or used debate. He gives a list of things that should be bought new, and another of things that should be bought used. His lists:

Always Buy Used: DVDs, CDs, books, video games, children's games and toys, maternity and baby clothing, exercise and sports equipment, musical instruments, office furniture, self-assembly home furniture, and recreational toys such as boats, RVs and motorcycles. (p. 138)

Never Buy Used: Children's cribs and baby furniture, car seats, helmets, laptops, plasma and flat panel TVs, mattresses and bedding, digital and video cameras, swimsuits and undergarments, vacuum cleaners and shoes. (P.138)

 

Cameron Hollinger is contributing editor of Kiplinger.com, a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice. She recently wrote a column entitled 12 Things to Buy Used. She and Pat Foran agree on most things, but there is an interesting exception.

Here's Hollinger's list of things to buy used: furniture (not mattresses - you could get bed bugs), designer jeans, tablets, swing sets, books and textbooks, kid's bicycles, video games, lawn equipment, power tools, baby gear, baby, toddler and kid clothing, and exercise equipment.

Hollinger defines baby gear as cribs, basinettes, strollers and high chairs, and states these should be bought used. Yet Pat Foran states that some of these are never to be bought used.

Suspecting the problems might have to do with safety, I checked Health Canada.  According to them, there are serious issues to consider before buying cribs and other children's items. Here are just a few of the things to consider:

• Safety regulations for cribs have changed over time, and older cribs may not be up to code.  
• Older cribs may be missing their safety warning information.
• Cribs parts may be broken or dangerously worn.

Also, an item may have actually been recalled due to safety reasons. There is a way you can check this. Health Canada maintains a list of recalled items, which includes both current recalls and a database of recalls which goes back to 1995.

Buying used is usually a great money-saver; just make sure you do your homework first!

 

 

Are You Planning a Garage Sale?

So you've decided to have a garage sale after cleaning out your home.  It can be lots of fun to sell the items and make a little extra money along the way.

But, a successful garage sale can depend on your advertising efforts before the event.  Here are some tips on how to advertise your garage sale for free or at minimum cost from an article entitled "Advertising a Garage Sale" (Source:  Real Estate Market Watch, April 3, 2012, page 10):

Yard Signs: Use large neon-coloured posters with bold lettering to list location, time, and date.  The lettering of your signs should be at least three inches high and one-half inch thick so that passing cars can read the words.  Post the signs on your front lawn before the event.  For example, if your garage sale is to be held on Saturday, post the sign on Friday morning.  Affix balloons to the sign in order to attract attention.   

Flyers:  Print flyers with the location, time, date, and some of the better items you are selling.  Again, use large print in bold letter.  Ask to post your flyers on bulletin boards in grocery stores, laundromats, and more.  If your garage sale is held on Saturday, it is recommended that you post your flyers on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Online Ads:   You can place free online ads.  Most community newspapers have an online version and allow free garage sale advertising.  Free online ads can be placed with Criagslist and Kijiji. If your garage sale is on Saturday, post your online ads on Thursday.

Print Ads:  Some newspapers in print allow free ads for garage sales.  Check with the newspapers regarding deadlines and days the ads will appear.  If your community newspaper is delivered once a week, make sure to meet the deadline.

At the end of the garage sale, remember to remove any signs and flyers that have been placed in the community.  Also remember to remove any online ads from Craigslist and Kijiji.

 

For further tips on organizing a successful garage sale or how to find second-hand treasures, check out the following titles in the Toronto Public Library system: 

For additional titles on this topic, search the Toronto Public Library catalogue with the following recommended subjects:

• Garage sales
• Secondhand trade

 

 

Why Hire a Financial Planner?

In these years of economic uncertainty, how can we plan, save, and build a solid, financial portfolio? 

Nick Bontis, a professional speaker, management consultant, and award-winning business professor at McMaster University, recommends that people should not tackle the challenge alone.  Mismanaging your money is similar to throwing it away.

In an article entitled "A Financial Adviser is Your Best Friend", he advises "Go seek counsel from a registered investment adviser who works for a reputable financial services company".  You can get started with $50 per month at most financial institutions.

He provides a few good tips on selecting a financial planner such as:

• Be selective
• Interview at least four or five advisers
• Enquire about their expertise
• Ensure they understand your particular situation

Your final selection should be a professional that can teach you the fundamental rules of money management.   Nick Bontis concludes "ultimately, you need to trust this person with your family's well-being." 

 

Here are a few titles in the Toronto Public Library system on how to select a financial planner:

Jaffe, Charles A.  Getting Started in Finding a Financial Advisor.  Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2010.

Kelman, Steven G.  Choosing the Best Financial Advisor : Sage Advice.  Toronto : ITP Nelson, c1999.

Watters, Graydon G.  How to Choose a Financial Advisor.  North York, Ont. : FKI Financial Knowledge, c1998. 

 

To find a financial advisor online, try the following database available at the Toronto Public Library's website:

Financial Services Canada
This database contains information about banks, law firms, financial institutions and accountants across Canada.

After logging in with your Toronto Public Library card,

• Under Limit To, first Clear All and then select Financial Services Canada only
• In the Search Words Anywhere box, type in the following heading(s):  Financial planning or Investment management.  It is recommended that you search each phrase separately.
• Search Mode should be Phrase
• Under Category, select Business & Finance
• You can also limit your search geographically; i.e. by City, Province/State, Country, Postal Code Range, and/or Area Code.
• At the bottom of the form, click on Search Now

 

Also, try the following recommended websites:

Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC)
The FPSC is a not-for-profit industry group that develops, promotes, and enforces professional standards for financial planners in Canada.  It includes a directory to find a Certified Financial Planner near you.  Also, it publishes an annual list of planners who have faced disciplinary action.

Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis)
This organization serves financial planners and their clients.  Visit the For the Public tab.  You can Find An Advisor or learn more about financial information such as Life insurance, Other insurance needs, Retirement planning, Estate planning, Savings and credit, Investment strategies, Tax talk, Life's transitions, and Small business needs.

Portfolio Management Association of Canada (PMAC)
This association represents investment management firms across Canada.  Find a firm through their website.

GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca
This online resource provides information about investing.  To find an advisor,click on the Managing Your Money tab.  Under Planning, select Getting Advice.  On the Getting Advice page, scroll to Finding An Adviser.  Click on Finding an Adviser Online.  A list of useful websites is provided.