October 11, 2019

The hiccup in the US repo market, last discussed on September 20, is now being addressed by the Fed:

The Federal Reserve said Friday that it would buy more government-backed securities in a move meant to keep an obscure but critical corner of financial markets functioning smoothly.

The central bank said that it had decided to begin buying Treasury bills — expanding its balance sheet for the first time since 2014 — and would begin the purchases on Tuesday. The Fed will continue buying “at least into the second quarter of next year,” it said in a statement.

The Fed will also continue to intervene in the market for repurchase agreements, essentially short-term loans between banks and financial institutions. It started doing so last month for the first time since the financial crisis after rates on repos shot up briefly, spilling over to push the central bank’s benchmark interest rate higher. The Fed will conduct the operations “at least through January of next year,” according to the release, “to ensure that the supply of reserves remains ample even during periods of sharp increases in nonreserve liabilities.”

Unlike its previous bond buying campaign, which began during the Great Recession, the Fed stressed on Friday that its new effort is not meant to boost the economy.

Jobs, jobs, jobs!

Canada’s unemployment rate nudged down to a near four-decade low last month as the economy added more jobs than analysts expect – dropping an economic figure into a tight electoral race, and warnings from economists that things may not be as rosy as they seem.

Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey showed the country added about 54,000 net new jobs in September, driven largely by gains in full-time work, and dropping the jobless rate nationally by 0.2 points to 5.5 per cent.

The national statistics office said September’s jobs growth was largely concentrated in an expansion of public-sector staff and self-employed workers. The report also said 70,000 of the new jobs were full-time, as the number of part-time workers declined.

HIMIPref™ Preferred Indices
These values reflect the December 2008 revision of the HIMIPref™ Indices

Values are provisional and are finalized monthly
Index Mean
Current
Yield
(at bid)
Median
YTW
Median
Average
Trading
Value
Median
Mod Dur
(YTW)
Issues Day’s Perf. Index Value
Ratchet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 1.0223 % 1,851.5
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 1.0223 % 3,397.5
Floater 6.51 % 6.68 % 48,283 12.96 4 1.0223 % 1,958.0
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1574 % 3,396.7
SplitShare 4.64 % 4.52 % 54,786 3.96 7 0.1574 % 4,056.4
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1574 % 3,164.9
Perpetual-Premium 5.49 % -22.27 % 57,952 0.09 8 0.0832 % 3,026.6
Perpetual-Discount 5.40 % 5.45 % 69,721 14.71 25 0.1451 % 3,204.3
FixedReset Disc 5.68 % 5.74 % 170,272 14.36 66 0.5714 % 2,069.1
Deemed-Retractible 5.22 % 5.78 % 66,331 7.86 27 -0.1401 % 3,157.6
FloatingReset 6.39 % 6.90 % 81,750 12.68 2 2.2817 % 2,376.7
FixedReset Prem 5.15 % 4.05 % 163,110 1.70 20 0.1258 % 2,598.0
FixedReset Bank Non 1.97 % 4.21 % 76,682 2.23 3 0.0693 % 2,680.3
FixedReset Ins Non 5.49 % 8.14 % 103,202 7.79 21 0.9525 % 2,104.0
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
NA.PR.E FixedReset Disc -2.33 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 18.02
Evaluated at bid price : 18.02
Bid-YTW : 5.85 %
BMO.PR.E FixedReset Disc -1.70 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 19.70
Evaluated at bid price : 19.70
Bid-YTW : 5.63 %
RY.PR.S FixedReset Disc -1.09 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 19.92
Evaluated at bid price : 19.92
Bid-YTW : 5.27 %
GWO.PR.T Deemed-Retractible -1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.85
Bid-YTW : 5.81 %
CM.PR.P FixedReset Disc 1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 15.91
Evaluated at bid price : 15.91
Bid-YTW : 5.94 %
TD.PF.J FixedReset Disc 1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 19.50
Evaluated at bid price : 19.50
Bid-YTW : 5.56 %
TRP.PR.D FixedReset Disc 1.08 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 15.85
Evaluated at bid price : 15.85
Bid-YTW : 6.19 %
BAM.PF.F FixedReset Disc 1.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.45
Evaluated at bid price : 17.45
Bid-YTW : 6.19 %
TD.PF.C FixedReset Disc 1.16 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 16.61
Evaluated at bid price : 16.61
Bid-YTW : 5.71 %
CM.PR.Q FixedReset Disc 1.23 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 18.12
Evaluated at bid price : 18.12
Bid-YTW : 5.93 %
TD.PF.B FixedReset Disc 1.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.10
Evaluated at bid price : 17.10
Bid-YTW : 5.52 %
TD.PF.A FixedReset Disc 1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.00
Bid-YTW : 5.56 %
PWF.PR.A Floater 1.33 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 11.41
Evaluated at bid price : 11.41
Bid-YTW : 6.16 %
NA.PR.S FixedReset Disc 1.35 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.33
Evaluated at bid price : 17.33
Bid-YTW : 5.71 %
BAM.PR.T FixedReset Disc 1.37 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 14.85
Evaluated at bid price : 14.85
Bid-YTW : 6.42 %
MFC.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non 1.48 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.50
Bid-YTW : 8.14 %
BMO.PR.T FixedReset Disc 1.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.05
Evaluated at bid price : 17.05
Bid-YTW : 5.55 %
TRP.PR.C FixedReset Disc 1.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 11.58
Evaluated at bid price : 11.58
Bid-YTW : 6.52 %
BMO.PR.Y FixedReset Disc 1.51 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 18.83
Evaluated at bid price : 18.83
Bid-YTW : 5.69 %
TRP.PR.F FloatingReset 1.55 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 13.11
Evaluated at bid price : 13.11
Bid-YTW : 6.90 %
BMO.PR.W FixedReset Disc 1.72 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 16.59
Evaluated at bid price : 16.59
Bid-YTW : 5.74 %
TRP.PR.A FixedReset Disc 1.72 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 13.02
Evaluated at bid price : 13.02
Bid-YTW : 6.69 %
BAM.PR.B Floater 1.75 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 10.45
Evaluated at bid price : 10.45
Bid-YTW : 6.68 %
MFC.PR.N FixedReset Ins Non 1.81 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 15.76
Bid-YTW : 9.65 %
CU.PR.C FixedReset Disc 1.86 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.01
Evaluated at bid price : 17.01
Bid-YTW : 5.73 %
HSE.PR.A FixedReset Disc 1.89 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 10.80
Evaluated at bid price : 10.80
Bid-YTW : 7.40 %
MFC.PR.F FixedReset Ins Non 1.95 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 12.56
Bid-YTW : 11.03 %
MFC.PR.M FixedReset Ins Non 2.16 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.10
Bid-YTW : 9.45 %
BAM.PF.G FixedReset Disc 2.24 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.35
Evaluated at bid price : 17.35
Bid-YTW : 6.37 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset Ins Non 2.32 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 15.91
Bid-YTW : 9.04 %
BAM.PR.X FixedReset Disc 2.54 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 12.93
Evaluated at bid price : 12.93
Bid-YTW : 6.30 %
BAM.PR.R FixedReset Disc 2.57 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 14.78
Evaluated at bid price : 14.78
Bid-YTW : 6.40 %
GWO.PR.N FixedReset Ins Non 2.57 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 13.96
Bid-YTW : 9.60 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset Ins Non 2.68 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.60
Bid-YTW : 8.39 %
HSE.PR.G FixedReset Disc 2.70 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.11
Evaluated at bid price : 17.11
Bid-YTW : 7.44 %
PWF.PR.P FixedReset Disc 2.85 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 12.61
Evaluated at bid price : 12.61
Bid-YTW : 6.11 %
SLF.PR.J FloatingReset 3.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 12.89
Bid-YTW : 11.13 %
SLF.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non 3.28 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 12.91
Bid-YTW : 10.84 %
TRP.PR.B FixedReset Disc 3.75 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 10.79
Evaluated at bid price : 10.79
Bid-YTW : 6.52 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset Ins Non 3.91 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.07
Bid-YTW : 10.38 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
TD.PF.J FixedReset Disc 146,863 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 19.50
Evaluated at bid price : 19.50
Bid-YTW : 5.56 %
CM.PR.S FixedReset Disc 103,217 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.61
Evaluated at bid price : 17.61
Bid-YTW : 5.83 %
RY.PR.Z FixedReset Disc 69,098 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.18
Evaluated at bid price : 17.18
Bid-YTW : 5.51 %
SLF.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non 51,600 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 12.91
Bid-YTW : 10.84 %
CM.PR.T FixedReset Disc 51,550 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 22.62
Evaluated at bid price : 23.60
Bid-YTW : 5.19 %
BMO.PR.Y FixedReset Disc 46,120 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 18.83
Evaluated at bid price : 18.83
Bid-YTW : 5.69 %
There were 56 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
NA.PR.E FixedReset Disc Quote: 18.02 – 18.56
Spot Rate : 0.5400
Average : 0.3469

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 18.02
Evaluated at bid price : 18.02
Bid-YTW : 5.85 %

SLF.PR.H FixedReset Ins Non Quote: 15.91 – 16.40
Spot Rate : 0.4900
Average : 0.3548

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 15.91
Bid-YTW : 9.04 %

HSE.PR.E FixedReset Disc Quote: 17.07 – 17.43
Spot Rate : 0.3600
Average : 0.2299

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 17.07
Evaluated at bid price : 17.07
Bid-YTW : 7.52 %

MFC.PR.J FixedReset Ins Non Quote: 18.44 – 18.84
Spot Rate : 0.4000
Average : 0.2778

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.44
Bid-YTW : 8.31 %

CM.PR.Q FixedReset Disc Quote: 18.12 – 18.45
Spot Rate : 0.3300
Average : 0.2081

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-10-11
Maturity Price : 18.12
Evaluated at bid price : 18.12
Bid-YTW : 5.93 %

GWO.PR.T Deemed-Retractible Quote: 23.85 – 24.15
Spot Rate : 0.3000
Average : 0.1929

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.85
Bid-YTW : 5.81 %

12 Responses to “October 11, 2019”

  1. Nestor says:

    Jane Philpott just knocked on my door. By herself, asking for our support. I informed her that I will be going after lunch to cast my ballot for her. Nice lady. let’s see what happens. she’s cautiously hopeful.

  2. prefman says:

    What are everyone’s thoughts on how a possible minority government – particularly one where the Liberals are supported by the NDP/Greens could impact taxation of dividends and capital gains? Could this result in more losses for the preferred share market?

  3. baffled says:

    prefman , with a lib majority or a minority you have to expect they will increase the div tax rate as well as increase the cap gain inclusion rate from 50% up to 75% . this absolutely will drop the price of stocks and preferred stocks . other than sell now i dont know how you can protect your self .i also think you can expect a contribution cap to be put on the tfsa

  4. mbarbon says:

    A contribution cap on TFSA would be a game changer… If set at something like $150K could mean that rich investors have a limited benifit….
    Maybe it shouldn’t be $150K of contributions, but no more contributions if over $150K… but that would be tough to manage….

  5. baffled says:

    $ 150,000 would be nice , but my bet is the contribution cap is set at $ 100,000

  6. jiHymas says:

    taxation of dividends and capital gains? Could this result in more losses for the preferred share market?

    No impact at all, would be my guess.

    Two reasons: first, it would be bad policy. The dividend tax credit has created a huge cult of dividend investors, small investors without huge ambitions, but who want to get an income stream for retirement. I don’t think it’s entirely coincidental that you can get $52,000 in dividends tax-free, that being a good solid basis for a comfortable retirement for the vaunted middle class.

    This is a desirable public good. But, of course, the public good is not much of a consideration in this Monty Hall election campaign, so we need to consider …

    Secondly, moving against the DTC would be a very risky political move, since all those dividend investors would be outraged and many others would be as well. Remember all that fuss about the Small Business tax rate and passive income? It wasn’t just the extremely well paid beneficiaries of this maneuver who were outraged – every hamburger-flipper in Canada was weeping copiously over the plight of those poor doctors who would find it completely impossible to save any money at all towards a year-long sabbatical every five years without a special tax break.

    The kerfuffle over an adverse change to the DTC would be much, much worse. And in a minority situation, no party is going to want to outrage so many potential voters, not when another election will probably happen sooner rather than later. No, I believe that a minority government will be too busy writing cheques for showpiece talking points to take any unpopular action.

  7. baffled says:

    as one of those ” who want to get an income stream for retirement.” i hope you are right

  8. mbarbon says:

    Recall the outrage over Income Trusts…
    The amount invested in those shares is minor compared to the amount in high-dividend shares (preferred, utilities, etc)..’

  9. skeptical says:

    Guys, don’t forget the regular dividends i.e. dividends coming from common stock. They are also going to get hosed. And that’s no income trust or preferred shares. That’s about 2.2 trillion dollar market. With TSX yield of about 2.5% (perhaps someone has a better number here), the dividends paid out are about $60 billion, perhaps more.
    So for once, despite the niche product we own here, we are riding the coat tails of the big guys.
    And in the process the fundamental concept of tax integration would also get destroyed.
    IMHO, unless we go full Venezulea or Cuba, it’s not happening anytime soon. They’d much rather tweak the capital tax rates and screw with GST rates before screwing up corporate tax system. But that’s just me thinking rationally. 🙂

  10. baffled says:

    skeptical says , good point about safety in numbers , but this comment “And in the process the fundamental concept of tax integration would also get destroyed.” i dont see how the gov increasing the tax on the end recipient of the divs , would change anything else about the tax system

  11. skeptical says:

    i dont see how the gov increasing the tax on the end recipient of the divs , would change anything else about the tax system

    That’s because dividends are paid from after tax earnings. Should the government choose to tax dividends as regular income, it would lead to double taxation. It’s a primary pillar on which our taxation system rests. Not saying it can’t happen, but it would violate so many core principles of tax policy and law. Here’s a primer:

    http://people.ucalgary.ca/~law/tutorials/L541/lesson5_Part1_intro.html

  12. stusclues says:

    “Should the government choose to tax dividends as regular income, it would lead to double taxation.”

    Yes it would, unless it didn’t. The way through this is to reduce corporate tax to a de minimus level (not zero because we want the data) and focus on individuals. This seems unlikely in the near term because we seem to have forgotten that corporations are simply social constructs that enable individuals to organize capital into limited liability structures. Neither good nor evil in theory but sometimes one or the other in practice.

    The global movement afoot is to pin taxes directly on the 1%, and more specifically the 0.1%, facilitated by new initiatives such as beneficial ownership rules. This is still some ways off, but ultimately could result in big changes to tax codes in OECD countries.

    I will note that James’ concept of capping dividend and capital gains for individuals is highly compatible with this new world.

    Lastly, consider who benefits most from focusing social anger and resentment on evil corporations. It is individual wealth in the background that enjoys the benefits of the deflection. This is why events like the Panama Papers are so much more threatening to the ultra high net worth crowd than movements like Occupy Wall Street.

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