Market Action

April 17, 2015

Has deflation been cancelled?

Core consumer prices rose 2.4 percent in March from a year earlier, the most since December 2008, and February retail sales climbed 1.7 percent, Statistics Canada said Friday from Ottawa. Price gains showed up in everything from text messages to fresh meat to cars.

Consumer spending fueled by low interest rates has been among the biggest sources of growth since a recession that started at the end of 2008, with manufacturing and business investment curtailed by weak global demand. Today’s retail figures showed gains in every major category, from a 5.6 percent increase at general merchandise stores to 0.9 percent at automobile dealers.

Canada’s currency climbed as much as 0.8 percent to C$1.2088 per U.S. dollar, the strongest since Jan. 21. It was down 0.4 percent at 1:36 p.m. in Toronto. Yields on benchmark government two-year bonds rose 5 basis points to 0.63 percent, the third straight increase.

We are told that it is it is hard to find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies [sic]. Sadly, we are never given the salacious details of Ruby’s pricing, but modern market science allows us to infer that a little bit of liquidity, if you know what I mean, helps a lot:

For colored stones, prices often increase with supply as jewelers acquire enough stock to justify marketing the gems to customers. Take regular emeralds: their value has appreciated 1,000 percent in five years as Harebottle’s Gemfields Plc and peers expanded mines, while marketing campaigns fronted by Hollywood star Mila Kunis gave demand a boost.

Now Harebottle wants to bring the same game to rubies. Gemfields’ Montepuez in Mozambique, estimated to contain as much as 40 percent of the world’s known supply of the deep-red stones, could triple output from the 8 million carats targeted for this year, according to the executive.

The potential rewards are compelling. At its first Singapore auction last December, Gemfields sold high-quality rubies for an average $689 a carat, dwarfing the $66 a carat for comparable emeralds. Production growth is underpinned by rising demand in China, where the color red symbolizes prosperity, health and wealth, making rubies an auspicious investment.

Assiduous Reader HS sends me a couple of links (which is more than most of you have ever done). The first is a mainstream report on ENB preferreds and their credit woes:

Over the past two years, Enbridge has come to the market on eight separate occasions with offerings of rate reset preferred shares. The offerings featured a variety of currencies (US$ or C$), coupons (4 per cent or 4.40 per cent) and spreads above five-year Canada bonds — the yield that serves as the base rate for the prefs. The last issue for $200 million was completed last September.

The Canadian restructuring was viewed as positive for Enbridge’s common shareholders – but not its debt holders. In other words, the drop down in assets wasn’t credit-friendly. Indeed, the pref share ratings are under review.

The restructuring at Enbridge occurred before the preferred share market was hit by the fallout from an unexpected 25 basis points cut in the bank rate made in January.

He also sends a link for a Schwab piece titled The Bond Investor’s Trilemma: Positioning for a Fed Rate Hike. I usually don’t pass brokerage analysis along – waste of time! – but brokerage work is useful for data and charts. In this case, there are three good charts:

fedFundProjections
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It is interesting that the market is so much more gloomy than the Fed.

TIPSBEIR
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Schwab comments:

Market-based measures of inflation expectations have been edging lower lately, along with actual inflation readings.

corporateInventory
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I’m almost getting tired of beating the drum on corporate bond liquidity … but one more time won’t hurt! Schwab comments:

One outgrowth of the financial crisis and its aftermath has been reduced liquidity in the bond market. Since the financial crisis, many banks have reduced their risk-taking and are not making markets in bonds or holding as many bonds as in the past. Consequently, there are fewer buyers and sellers in the market and if you want to sell a bond, you may have a difficult time finding a buyer at a reasonable price, especially during periods of market volatility.

Rob Carrick wrote a fairly lengthy piece in the Globe titled What investors should know about the recent plunge in preferred shares:

But rate resets have been trouble.

Investors clearly bought them with the expectation that the reset would help them tap into a higher yield down the line. Today, however, some of these shares are headed to a reset at a time when rates are at unexpectedly low levels. It all comes down to this: Five-year Canada bonds had a yield around 0.75 per cent at midweek, compared with about 3 per cent five years ago.

You can see the result of this rate decline in Fortis Inc.’s Series H five-year fixed rate reset shares (FTS.PR.H). They currently pay a dividend that yielded 4.25 per cent when issued at a value of $25 per share. The dividend on these shares will be reset on June 1 to produce a dividend yield of 1.45 percentage points above the five-year Canada bond yield. Based on recent bond yields, these shares would, after reset, have a yield of about 2.2 per cent based on the $25 issue price. In dollar terms, the dividend would fall to 55 cents from the current $1.06.

The shares traded this week in the $15.25 range, which meant their yield based on the current $1.06 dividend was 6.9 per cent. Mr. Nagel calculates their yield after the reset at about 3.6 per cent based on this week’s share price and a dividend of 55 cents. No matter how you look at it, investors are going to get less in dividends after the reset. Now, what should they do about it?

Mr. Nagel lays out the decision on whether to choose the floating rate option like this: Do you want a lower yield now in exchange for the opportunity for increases if interest rates rise over the next five years, or would you prefer to lock in 3.6 per cent? The floating rate option could end up being the most rewarding, he argues. If rates do go up in the five years to come, you’ll benefit in the near term rather than having to wait until the next reset date. With floating rate shares, adjustments are made every three months.

Another thought from Mr. Nagel is to sell all or part of your rate reset preferred shares and put the money into straight preferreds, which pay a fixed dividend. Straight preferreds have benefited a little bit from lower rates – Desjardins data show they were up 2.5 per cent as a group for the year to April 10, while the preferred share universe was down 8 per cent.

Still another possibility would be to switch from preferred shares to dividend-paying common shares. They’ve had a rough go lately as well, but that’s a matter for a future column.

It appears that Mr. Nagel’s thinking has evolved since his exhortations in January, 2010:

On the other hand, if the bond yield is low and it looks like the shares will be reset, the best bet — available in the vast majority of cases — is to convert to floating rate preferred shares, which are usually pegged to the Government of Canada three-month treasury bills plus the spread.

But now market timing and return chasing is the recommended strategy. Market timing achieves the main objective of the investment industry, which is the generation of excessive commissions.

Dividend Growth Split Corp., proud issuer of DGS.PR.A, has been confirmed at Pfd-3 by DBRS:

DBRS Limited (DBRS) has today confirmed the Preferred Shares rating of Dividend Growth Split Corp. (the Company) at Pfd-3. In December 2007, the Company issued approximately 1.5 million Preferred Shares (at $10 each) and an equal number of Class A Shares (at $15 each). Subsequent to the initial public offering, the Company has completed six follow-on offerings. The total number of Preferred Shares and Class A Shares outstanding currently stands at approximately 18.7 million shares each. The scheduled redemption date for both classes of shares issued is November 28, 2019.

The net asset value (NAV) of the Company has been volatile since the last rating confirmation in April 2014. As of April 9, 2015, the downside protection available to the Preferred Shares is approximately 45.2%, down from 46.7% on April 3, 2014. The dividend coverage ratio is approximately 0.99 times. The Pfd-3 rating of the Preferred Shares is based primarily on the downside protection available and the additional protection provided by an asset coverage test, which does not permit any distributions to holders of the Class A Shares if the NAV of the Company falls below $15.

It was a mixed day for the Canadian preferred share market, with PerpetualDiscounts gaining 4bp, FixedResets down 38bp and DeemedRetractibles off 26bp. The Performance Highlights table is predictably dominated by losing FixedResets, but the recent high level of volatility manifests itself in a large number of winners as well – notably a few Enbridge issues. Volume was super-duper very extremely high.

For as long as the FixedReset market is so violently unsettled, I’ll keep publishing updates of the more interesting and meaningful series of FixedResets’ Implied Volatilities. This doesn’t include Enbridge because although Enbridge has a large number of issues outstanding, all of which are quite liquid, the range of Issue Reset Spreads is too small for decent conclusions. The low is 212bp (ENB.PR.H; second-lowest is ENB.PR.D at 237bp) and the high is a mere 268 for ENB.PF.G.

Remember that all rich /cheap assessments are:
» based on Implied Volatility Theory only
» are relative only to other FixedResets from the same issuer
» assume constant GOC-5 yield
» assume constant Implied Volatility
» assume constant spread

Here’s TRP:

impVol_TRP_150417
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TRP.PR.E, which resets 2019-10-30 at +235, is bid at 22.68 to be $1.85 rich, while TRP.PR.B, resetting 2015-6-30 at +128, is $0.88 cheap at its bid price of 13.68.

impVol_MFC_150417
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Another excellent fit, but the numbers are perplexing. Implied Volatility for MFC continues to be a conundrum, although it declined substantially today. It is still too high if we consider that NVCC rules will never apply to these issues; it is still too low if we consider them to be NVCC non-compliant issues (and therefore with Deemed Maturities in the call schedule).

Losses by the lower-spread issues have resulted in a sharp decrease in Implied Volatility, which was 17% yesterday and 19% on March 31.

Most expensive is MFC.PR.I, resetting at +286 on 2017-9-19, bid at 25.15 to be $0.47 rich, while MFC.PR.H, resetting at +313bp on 2017-3-19, is bid at 25.15 to be $0.46 cheap.

impVol_BAM_150417
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This fit is actually quite good.

The cheapest issue relative to its peers is BAM.PF.A, resetting at +290bp on 2016-9-30, bid at 23.13 to be $0.24 cheap. BAM.PF.G, resetting at +284bp 2020-6-30 is bid at 23.51 and appears to be $0.51 rich.

impVol_FTS_150417
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This is just weird because the middle is expensive and the ends are cheap but anyway … FTS.PR.H, with a spread of +145bp, and bid at 15.40, looks $1.00 cheap and resets 2015-6-1. FTS.PR.K, with a spread of +205bp and resetting 2019-3-1, is bid at 21.05 and is $0.35 rich.

pairs_FR_150417
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Investment-grade pairs (including TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F, which is no longer an outlier) now predict an average over the next five years of about 0.28%. The DC.PR.B / DC.PR.D pair is still off the charts and now predicts an average bill rate over the next 4 3/4 years of -1.57%.

pairs_FF_150417
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Shall we just say that this exhibits a high level of confidence in the continued rapacity of Canadian banks?

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 -1.8391 % 2,170.8
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -1.8391 % 3,795.5
Floater 3.34 % 3.53 % 58,020 18.48 4 -1.8391 % 2,307.7
OpRet 4.43 % -2.25 % 39,277 0.12 2 0.0394 % 2,763.2
SplitShare 4.57 % 4.57 % 59,598 3.41 3 0.1604 % 3,225.0
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0394 % 2,526.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.34 % 1.29 % 65,141 0.08 25 -0.1062 % 2,513.4
Perpetual-Discount 5.15 % 5.10 % 144,513 14.97 9 0.0380 % 2,771.9
FixedReset 4.63 % 3.83 % 278,207 16.26 85 -0.3848 % 2,307.6
Deemed-Retractible 4.91 % 3.40 % 109,562 0.59 36 -0.2554 % 2,647.1
FloatingReset 2.54 % 2.98 % 77,994 6.25 8 -0.0856 % 2,342.0
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
TD.PF.B FixedReset -4.60 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.21
Evaluated at bid price : 22.82
Bid-YTW : 3.48 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset -4.36 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.50
Bid-YTW : 6.18 %
TD.PF.C FixedReset -3.84 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.17
Evaluated at bid price : 22.80
Bid-YTW : 3.47 %
MFC.PR.F FixedReset -3.70 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.66
Bid-YTW : 7.37 %
SLF.PR.I FixedReset -3.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.03
Bid-YTW : 4.17 %
BAM.PR.B Floater -3.20 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 14.23
Evaluated at bid price : 14.23
Bid-YTW : 3.53 %
IAG.PR.G FixedReset -3.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.25
Bid-YTW : 4.21 %
BAM.PR.C Floater -3.14 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 14.19
Evaluated at bid price : 14.19
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %
CIU.PR.C FixedReset -3.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 15.80
Evaluated at bid price : 15.80
Bid-YTW : 3.57 %
MFC.PR.N FixedReset -2.59 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.20
Bid-YTW : 4.99 %
MFC.PR.J FixedReset -2.18 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.77
Bid-YTW : 4.27 %
BAM.PF.E FixedReset -2.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 21.12
Evaluated at bid price : 21.12
Bid-YTW : 4.30 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset -1.79 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.16
Bid-YTW : 6.32 %
TD.PF.A FixedReset -1.66 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.65
Evaluated at bid price : 23.65
Bid-YTW : 3.32 %
NA.PR.W FixedReset -1.65 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.74
Evaluated at bid price : 23.90
Bid-YTW : 3.28 %
NA.PR.S FixedReset -1.61 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 23.02
Evaluated at bid price : 24.40
Bid-YTW : 3.32 %
MFC.PR.M FixedReset -1.53 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.60
Bid-YTW : 4.84 %
BMO.PR.S FixedReset -1.51 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.91
Evaluated at bid price : 24.15
Bid-YTW : 3.34 %
PWF.PR.P FixedReset -1.50 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 17.12
Evaluated at bid price : 17.12
Bid-YTW : 3.61 %
CM.PR.P FixedReset -1.45 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.72
Evaluated at bid price : 23.85
Bid-YTW : 3.26 %
SLF.PR.D Deemed-Retractible -1.40 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.24
Bid-YTW : 5.44 %
SLF.PR.C Deemed-Retractible -1.40 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.25
Bid-YTW : 5.44 %
SLF.PR.E Deemed-Retractible -1.39 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.40
Bid-YTW : 5.41 %
BAM.PR.K Floater -1.33 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 14.11
Evaluated at bid price : 14.11
Bid-YTW : 3.56 %
HSE.PR.C FixedReset -1.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.56
Evaluated at bid price : 23.49
Bid-YTW : 4.28 %
FTS.PR.F Perpetual-Premium -1.29 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 24.18
Evaluated at bid price : 24.46
Bid-YTW : 5.06 %
RY.PR.H FixedReset -1.23 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.87
Evaluated at bid price : 24.10
Bid-YTW : 3.28 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset -1.22 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.11
Evaluated at bid price : 22.68
Bid-YTW : 3.69 %
SLF.PR.B Deemed-Retractible -1.16 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.61
Bid-YTW : 5.06 %
RY.PR.Z FixedReset -1.15 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.92
Evaluated at bid price : 24.16
Bid-YTW : 3.24 %
CM.PR.O FixedReset -1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.78
Evaluated at bid price : 23.90
Bid-YTW : 3.34 %
ENB.PR.F FixedReset 1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 18.86
Evaluated at bid price : 18.86
Bid-YTW : 4.58 %
MFC.PR.I FixedReset 1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.15
Bid-YTW : 3.83 %
ENB.PF.G FixedReset 1.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 20.85
Evaluated at bid price : 20.85
Bid-YTW : 4.53 %
ENB.PF.C FixedReset 1.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 20.37
Evaluated at bid price : 20.37
Bid-YTW : 4.57 %
TRP.PR.B FixedReset 1.33 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 13.68
Evaluated at bid price : 13.68
Bid-YTW : 3.79 %
MFC.PR.K FixedReset 1.44 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.77
Bid-YTW : 5.06 %
TRP.PR.C FixedReset 1.61 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 15.75
Evaluated at bid price : 15.75
Bid-YTW : 3.80 %
BAM.PR.R FixedReset 1.73 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 19.39
Evaluated at bid price : 19.39
Bid-YTW : 4.18 %
ENB.PR.T FixedReset 1.76 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 19.62
Evaluated at bid price : 19.62
Bid-YTW : 4.44 %
ENB.PR.N FixedReset 1.95 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 19.90
Evaluated at bid price : 19.90
Bid-YTW : 4.51 %
ENB.PR.Y FixedReset 2.94 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 18.92
Evaluated at bid price : 18.92
Bid-YTW : 4.50 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
PWF.PR.L Perpetual-Premium 257,257 Scotia crossed 125,000 at 24.94. Nesbitt crossed 125,000 at the same price.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 24.66
Evaluated at bid price : 24.90
Bid-YTW : 5.13 %
MFC.PR.G FixedReset 251,476 TD crossed four blocks: 10,000 shares, 40,000 shares, 139,700 and 50,000, all at 25.00.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.92
Bid-YTW : 3.91 %
RY.PR.J FixedReset 231,776 RBC crossed three blocks of 40,000 each, all at 24.95, and bought 13,500 from TD at the same price. Scotia crossed 50,000 at the same price again.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 23.13
Evaluated at bid price : 24.94
Bid-YTW : 3.46 %
POW.PR.A Perpetual-Premium 184,100 Scotia crossed 59,300 at 25.35; Nesbitt crossed 60,000 at the same price; TD crossed 60,400 at the same price again.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2015-05-17
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.33
Bid-YTW : -9.76 %
TD.PF.D FixedReset 136,215 RBC bought 15,000 from TD at 24.70, then crossed 78,600 at 24.80.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 23.09
Evaluated at bid price : 24.85
Bid-YTW : 3.50 %
CM.PR.Q FixedReset 100,045 Scotia crossed blocks of 40,000 and 45,900, both at 24.90.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 23.06
Evaluated at bid price : 24.75
Bid-YTW : 3.52 %
There were 71 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
SLF.PR.I FixedReset Quote: 24.03 – 25.00
Spot Rate : 0.9700
Average : 0.5592

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.03
Bid-YTW : 4.17 %

MFC.PR.M FixedReset Quote: 22.60 – 24.00
Spot Rate : 1.4000
Average : 1.0401

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.60
Bid-YTW : 4.84 %

TRP.PR.E FixedReset Quote: 22.68 – 23.64
Spot Rate : 0.9600
Average : 0.6056

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.11
Evaluated at bid price : 22.68
Bid-YTW : 3.69 %

SLF.PR.H FixedReset Quote: 19.50 – 20.50
Spot Rate : 1.0000
Average : 0.6795

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.50
Bid-YTW : 6.18 %

TD.PF.B FixedReset Quote: 22.82 – 23.55
Spot Rate : 0.7300
Average : 0.4616

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-17
Maturity Price : 22.21
Evaluated at bid price : 22.82
Bid-YTW : 3.48 %

IAG.PR.G FixedReset Quote: 24.25 – 24.97
Spot Rate : 0.7200
Average : 0.4870

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.25
Bid-YTW : 4.21 %

Issue Comments

BNS.PR.Y / BNS.PR.D: Results of Conversion = 42%

The Bank of Nova Scotia has announced:

that 4,457,262 of its 10,600,000 Non-cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Shares Series 30 of Scotiabank (the “Preferred Shares Series 30”) have been elected for conversion on April 27, 2015, on a one-for-one basis, into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Shares Series 31 of Scotiabank (the “Preferred Shares Series 31”). Consequently, on April 27, 2015, Scotiabank will have 6,142,738 Preferred Shares Series 30 and 4,457,262 Preferred Shares Series 31 issued and outstanding. The Preferred Shares Series 30 and Preferred Shares Series 31 will be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols BNS.PR.Y and BNS.PR.D, respectively.

This is a conversion rate of 42%, comparable to the recent AIM.PR.A / AIM.PR.B rate of 43%, and a little higher than the FFH.PR.E / FFH.PR.F rate of 31%.

Readers will remember that I recommended holders of BNS.PR.Y retain their shares and the reasoning behind this conclusion remains valid, according to the latest analysis of FixedReset / FloatingReset Strong Pairs outstanding:

pairs_FR_150417
Click for Big

Investment-Grade pairs outstanding currently require break-even three-month bill rates of 0.28%. If the new BNS.PR.Y / BNS.PR.D pair trades at this implied rate then, given today’s closing bid of 21.52 for BNS.PR.Y, the bid for BNS.PR.D will be 20.91, about 2.8% lower.

Market Action

April 16, 2015

Aston Hill is looking for a buyer:

Executives at Aston Hill Financial Inc. have been shopping their firm to other asset managers, hoping to find a buyer.

Over the past two months, senior employees at Aston Hill have reached out to several Canadian firms and expressed interest in selling their company, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions.

The overtures have been made at a volatile time for the company, which recently lost a high profile mandate to manage $2.2-billion ‎worth of funds for IA Clarington Investments Inc. which prompted Aston Hill to slash its dividend.

In January 2011, Aston Hill renamed its subsidiary, Catapult Financial Management Inc. to Aston Hill Investments Inc.

Catapult was mentioned on PrefBlog in February 2009 as offering a closed-end actively managed preferred share fund, Preferred Share Investment Trust. This fund now has $68.1-million under management and is still managed by Aston Hill Investments Inc. Performance has been disappointing.

It was another poor day for the Canadian preferred share market, with PerpetualDiscounts off 13bp, FixedResets losing 27bp and DeemedRetractibles down 15bp. The lengthy Performance Highlights table is dominated by losing FixedResets. Volume was extremely high.

For as long as the FixedReset market is so violently unsettled, I’ll keep publishing updates of the more interesting and meaningful series of FixedResets’ Implied Volatilities. This doesn’t include Enbridge because although Enbridge has a large number of issues outstanding, all of which are quite liquid, the range of Issue Reset Spreads is too small for decent conclusions. The low is 212bp (ENB.PR.H; second-lowest is ENB.PR.D at 237bp) and the high is a mere 268 for ENB.PF.G.

Remember that all rich /cheap assessments are:
» based on Implied Volatility Theory only
» are relative only to other FixedResets from the same issuer
» assume constant GOC-5 yield
» assume constant Implied Volatility
» assume constant spread

Here’s TRP:

impVol_TRP_150416
Click for Big

TRP.PR.E, which resets 2019-10-30 at +235, is bid at 22.96 to be $1.11 rich, while TRP.PR.B, resetting 2015-6-30 at +128, is $0.98 cheap at its bid price of 13.50.

impVol_MFC_150416
Click for Big

Another excellent fit, but the numbers are perplexing. Implied Volatility for MFC continues to be a conundrum, although it declined substantially today. It is still too high if we consider that NVCC rules will never apply to these issues; it is still too low if we consider them to be NVCC non-compliant issues (and therefore with Deemed Maturities in the call schedule).

Most expensive is MFC.PR.J, resetting at +261 on 2018-3-19, bid at 24.30 to be $0.49 rich, while MFC.PR.K, resetting at +222bp on 2018-9-19, is bid at 25.12 to be $0.70 cheap.

impVol_BAM_150416
Click for Big

The cheapest issue relative to its peers is BAM.PR.R, resetting at +230bp on 2016-6-30, bid at 19.06 to be $0.56 cheap. BAM.PF.G, resetting at +284bp 2020-6-30 is bid at 23.61 and appears to be $0.57 rich.

impVol_FTS_150416
Click for Big

This is just weird because the middle is expensive and the ends are cheap but anyway … FTS.PR.H, with a spread of +145bp, and bid at 15.25, looks $1.01 cheap and resets 2015-6-1. FTS.PR.K, with a spread of +205bp and resetting 2019-3-1, is bid at 21.05 and is $0.46 rich.

pairs_FR_150416
Click for Big

Investment-grade pairs other than TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F now predict an average over the next five years of about 0.30%, up marginally on the day. TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F remains an outlier, predicting 0.70%. The DC.PR.B / DC.PR.D pair is still off the charts and now predicts an average bill rate over the next 4 3/4 years of -1.29%.

pairs_FF_150416
Click for Big

Shall we just say that this exhibits a high level of confidence in the continued rapacity of Canadian banks?

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 1.2637 % 2,211.4
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 1.2637 % 3,866.6
Floater 3.28 % 3.41 % 58,156 18.74 4 1.2637 % 2,350.9
OpRet 4.43 % -1.59 % 38,516 0.13 2 0.0000 % 2,762.1
SplitShare 4.58 % 4.57 % 62,057 3.42 3 -0.0668 % 3,219.8
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 2,525.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.33 % -0.12 % 64,639 0.08 25 -0.1598 % 2,516.0
Perpetual-Discount 5.15 % 5.08 % 145,758 14.91 9 -0.1327 % 2,770.9
FixedReset 4.61 % 3.80 % 263,395 16.35 85 -0.2724 % 2,316.5
Deemed-Retractible 4.90 % 2.38 % 106,875 0.16 36 -0.1484 % 2,653.8
FloatingReset 2.54 % 2.99 % 77,851 6.25 8 -0.0535 % 2,344.0
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
BAM.PF.E FixedReset -4.39 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 21.56
Evaluated at bid price : 21.56
Bid-YTW : 4.21 %
MFC.PR.K FixedReset -2.50 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.46
Bid-YTW : 5.24 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset -2.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 22.28
Evaluated at bid price : 22.96
Bid-YTW : 3.63 %
TRP.PR.D FixedReset -1.67 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 21.98
Evaluated at bid price : 22.42
Bid-YTW : 3.68 %
CU.PR.C FixedReset -1.50 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 23.27
Evaluated at bid price : 24.31
Bid-YTW : 3.31 %
BMO.PR.W FixedReset -1.44 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 22.80
Evaluated at bid price : 24.00
Bid-YTW : 3.25 %
CU.PR.E Perpetual-Premium -1.12 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 24.29
Evaluated at bid price : 24.72
Bid-YTW : 5.00 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset -1.06 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 3.94 %
FTS.PR.M FixedReset -1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 22.69
Evaluated at bid price : 23.75
Bid-YTW : 3.59 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset -1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.39
Bid-YTW : 5.62 %
FTS.PR.G FixedReset 1.09 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 21.35
Evaluated at bid price : 21.35
Bid-YTW : 3.64 %
CIU.PR.C FixedReset 1.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 16.30
Evaluated at bid price : 16.30
Bid-YTW : 3.46 %
BAM.PR.B Floater 1.94 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 14.70
Evaluated at bid price : 14.70
Bid-YTW : 3.41 %
BAM.PR.C Floater 2.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 14.65
Evaluated at bid price : 14.65
Bid-YTW : 3.42 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
RY.PR.J FixedReset 152,806 RBC crossed 90,000 at 25.02.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 23.12
Evaluated at bid price : 24.90
Bid-YTW : 3.47 %
TD.PF.C FixedReset 131,600 TD crossed 120,000 at 24.04.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 22.66
Evaluated at bid price : 23.71
Bid-YTW : 3.29 %
BIP.PR.A FixedReset 88,298 TD crossed two blocks of 40,000 each, both at 24.60.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 22.97
Evaluated at bid price : 24.50
Bid-YTW : 4.42 %
NA.PR.W FixedReset 80,400 TD crossed 70,000 at 24.40.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 22.91
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 3.20 %
TD.PF.D FixedReset 73,200 RBC crossed 25,000 at 24.80.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 23.03
Evaluated at bid price : 24.67
Bid-YTW : 3.53 %
TRP.PR.G FixedReset 70,700 Desjardins crossed 50,000 at 24.87.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 23.07
Evaluated at bid price : 24.85
Bid-YTW : 3.69 %
There were 69 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
MFC.PR.K FixedReset Quote: 21.46 – 22.14
Spot Rate : 0.6800
Average : 0.4802

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.46
Bid-YTW : 5.24 %

CU.PR.D Perpetual-Premium Quote: 24.80 – 25.21
Spot Rate : 0.4100
Average : 0.2512

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 24.34
Evaluated at bid price : 24.80
Bid-YTW : 4.98 %

MFC.PR.N FixedReset Quote: 22.79 – 23.49
Spot Rate : 0.7000
Average : 0.5427

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.79
Bid-YTW : 4.66 %

TD.PF.C FixedReset Quote: 23.71 – 24.14
Spot Rate : 0.4300
Average : 0.2890

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 22.66
Evaluated at bid price : 23.71
Bid-YTW : 3.29 %

BAM.PR.X FixedReset Quote: 16.46 – 16.89
Spot Rate : 0.4300
Average : 0.2895

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-16
Maturity Price : 16.46
Evaluated at bid price : 16.46
Bid-YTW : 4.30 %

NA.PR.M Deemed-Retractible Quote: 25.61 – 25.94
Spot Rate : 0.3300
Average : 0.2081

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2015-06-14
Maturity Price : 25.50
Evaluated at bid price : 25.61
Bid-YTW : 0.32 %

Market Action

April 15, 2015

Today’s big news was the Bank of Canada rate decision:

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 3/4 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/2 per cent.

Total CPI inflation is at 1 per cent, reflecting the drop in consumer energy prices. Core inflation has remained close to 2 per cent in recent months, as the temporary effects of sector-specific factors and pass-through of the lower Canadian dollar have offset the disinflationary forces from slack in the economy.

The very weak first quarter has led to a widening of Canada’s output gap and additional downward pressure on projected inflation. However, the anticipated recovery in growth means that the output gap will be back in line with its previous trajectory later this year. Consequently, the effects on core inflation of the lower dollar and the output gap will continue to offset each other. As the economy reaches and remains at full capacity around the end of 2016, both total and core inflation are projected to be close to 2 per cent on a sustained basis.

Risks to the outlook for inflation are now roughly balanced and risks to financial stability appear to be evolving as expected. The Bank judges that the current degree of monetary policy stimulus remains appropriate and therefore is maintaining the target for the overnight rate at 3/4 per cent.

The loonie liked the news:

The Canadian dollar touched its highest level in two months after the central bank kept borrowing rates unchanged, pointing to signs damage from an oil-price shock may already be fading and manufacturing exports picking up.

In its monetary policy report, the Bank of Canada said the economy is responding to the stimulus it added to cushion Canada’s economy from the fall in oil, its largest export, and forecast faster growth later in the year.

The bank said in its quarterly MPR there were signs of improvement in the labor market and the non-energy exports it is counting on to drive economic expansion, with industries sensitive to a lower exchange rate, like aircraft and industrial machinery, expected to lead growth.

Parakeet Poluz had some good news for the electoral prospects of his masters:

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is becoming Canada’s leading optimist projecting a faster return to target on inflation amid a generally improving economy.

Growth will quicken to a 2.8 percent annualized pace in the third quarter, the central bank said Wednesday, exceeding all forecasts in a Bloomberg survey. Poloz kept the benchmark interest rate at 0.75 percent and said the positive side of the story will dominate in the second half, lifting inflation back to the 2 percent target almost a year ahead of schedule.

It’s a stark change from January, when Poloz shocked markets by cutting rates by a quarter point, a move he called “insurance” against the economic damage wrought by collapsing oil prices. He also told the Financial Times last month Canada’s economy was atrocious in the first quarter. The statement released by the bank Wednesday signaled the worst of the oil-price shock may be over, with improvements ranging from early signs of labor-market strength to gains in the non-energy exporting sector.

My favourite SEC Commissioner, Daniel M. Gallagher, had some interesting things to say about supra-national regulatory bodies:

On its face, “regulatory harmonization” sounds like a noble goal: if jurisdictions could coalesce around a single set of high-quality standards, compliance burdens could be reduced with no real reduction of investor protections. Since the crisis, however, “regulatory harmonization” has taken on a new and worrisome meaning. Instead of facilitating cooperation among regulators from different jurisdictions, the concept of “regulatory harmonization” has morphed into a top-down, forcible imposition of one-size-fits-all regulatory standards on sovereign nations by opaque groups of global regulators. This “one world, one government” approach to regulation doesn’t allow itself to be bothered by musty old concepts like national sovereignty or consent of the governed.

In 2009, the G-20 directed the FSB to coordinate the work of national authorities and multinational standard-setting organizations in the development of effective financial services regulation, with an emphasis on promoting financial stability. However, in reality, the FSB has been doing far more than merely coordinate the efforts of national regulators.

Recently, as evidenced by a memorandum to FSB members from its chairman, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, the FSB has removed all doubt of its real purpose: to direct national authorities to implement the FSB’s own policies.[3] Mr. Carney explained in his memo that the FSB’s decisions must receive “full, consistent and prompt implementation” in member nations, as this “is essential to maintaining an open and resilient financial system.”

Let me be clear: I am not calling for the disbanding of international financial regulatory organizations. Rather, we must return these entities to their original pre-financial crisis purposes of facilitating cooperation among regulators from different jurisdictions. The concepts that steered these efforts were regulatory equivalence and substituted compliance. The ultimate goal was for regulators in each jurisdiction to recognize that many of their foreign counterparts had regulatory goals similar to their own, and that their regulatory approaches were of a high quality despite their differences. Indeed, there is usually more than one way to achieve any given regulatory objective, and it’s not always clear which way is “best.”

Having acknowledged that there is more than one way to achieve the same goals, we as regulators could voluntarily choose to deem compliance with a high quality foreign regulatory regime to qualify as a substitute for compliance with our own domestic requirements. In doing so, we could avoid complicated cross-border regulatory disputes and lend greater certainty and predictability to cross-border transactions. By avoiding layered, duplicative, and sometimes incompatible regulations, we could facilitate smoother and more efficient interactions between our respective capital markets, and by allowing and even encouraging heterogeneity of regulation, we could foster robustness and innovation in our capital markets.

The current coercive approach to regulatory harmonization, on the other hand, is flawed as a matter of policy and will become increasingly impractical as the number of nations needing to be coerced grows. It is difficult enough to reach agreement on matters between the U.S. and Europe, despite their many similarities. Other markets, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of the developing world, will undoubtedly — and in fact already have — considered going it alone. Others may not have been invited to the party in the first place, and so feel themselves under no obligation to play along.

In an effort to divine the future, Canadian preferred share investors turned to the tarot … two cards kept showing up:

hangedMandeath
Click for Big

It was a mixed day for the Canadian preferred share market, with PerpetualDiscounts up 14bp, FixedResets off 98bp and DeemedRetractibles gaining 2bp. MFC, FTS and BAM FixedResets were notably prominent on an extremely lengthy Performance Highlights table, while volatility itself was underscored by the fact that there was an observable crop of winners as well. Volume was extremely high.

For as long as the FixedReset market is so violently unsettled, I’ll keep publishing updates of the more interesting and meaningful series of FixedResets’ Implied Volatilities. This doesn’t include Enbridge because although Enbridge has a large number of issues outstanding, all of which are quite liquid, the range of Issue Reset Spreads is too small for decent conclusions. The low is 212bp (ENB.PR.H; second-lowest is ENB.PR.D at 237bp) and the high is a mere 268 for ENB.PF.G.

Remember that all rich /cheap assessments are:
» based on Implied Volatility Theory only
» are relative only to other FixedResets from the same issuer
» assume constant GOC-5 yield
» assume constant Implied Volatility
» assume constant spread

Here’s TRP:

impVol_TRP_150415
Click for Big

TRP.PR.E, which resets 2019-10-30 at +235, is bid at 23.50 to be $1.45 rich, while TRP.PR.C, resetting 2016-1-30 at +154, is $0.96 cheap at its bid price of 15.45.

impVol_MFC_150415
Click for Big

Another excellent fit, but the numbers are perplexing. Implied Volatility for MFC continues to be a conundrum, although it declined substantially today. It is still too high if we consider that NVCC rules will never apply to these issues; it is still too low if we consider them to be NVCC non-compliant issues (and therefore with Deemed Maturities in the call schedule).

Most expensive is MFC.PR.J, resetting at +261 on 2018-3-19, bid at 24.35 to be $0.52 rich, while MFC.PR.H, resetting at +313bp on 2017-3-19, is bid at 25.12 to be $0.41 cheap.

Horrible performance by the MFC issues today resulted in a marked spread-widening; volatility was hardly affected. Yesterday’s figures were 223bp and 17%.

impVol_BAM_150415
Click for Big

The cheapest issue relative to its peers is BAM.PR.R, resetting at +230bp on 2016-6-30, bid at 19.07 to be $0.76 cheap. BAM.PF.E, resetting at +255bp 2020-3-31 is bid at 22.55 and appears to be $1.11 rich.

Again, horrible daily performance has manifested itself mainly in the spread. Yesterday’s figures were 303bp and 4%.

impVol_FTS_150415
Click for Big

This is just weird because the middle is expensive and the ends are cheap but anyway … FTS.PR.H, with a spread of +145bp, and bid at 15.30, looks $0.88 cheap and resets 2015-6-1. FTS.PR.K, with a spread of +205bp and resetting 2019-3-1, is bid at 21.01 and is $0.46 rich.

pairs_FR_150415
Click for Big

Investment-grade pairs other than TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F now predict an average over the next five years of just over 0.30%, up marginally on the day. TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F remains an outlier, predicting 0.89%. The DC.PR.B / DC.PR.D pair is still off the charts and now predicts an average bill rate over the next 4 3/4 years of -1.11%.

pairs_FF_150415
Click for Big

Shall we just say that this exhibits a high level of confidence in the continued rapacity of Canadian banks?

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 2.0706 % 2,183.8
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 2.0706 % 3,818.4
Floater 3.32 % 3.48 % 58,896 18.59 4 2.0706 % 2,321.6
OpRet 4.43 % -1.56 % 39,795 0.13 2 0.0000 % 2,762.1
SplitShare 4.58 % 4.56 % 62,990 3.42 3 -0.1201 % 3,222.0
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 2,525.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.32 % 0.92 % 64,904 0.08 25 -0.1784 % 2,520.1
Perpetual-Discount 5.14 % 5.11 % 145,629 14.92 9 0.1424 % 2,774.6
FixedReset 4.60 % 3.81 % 262,388 16.38 85 -0.9843 % 2,322.9
Deemed-Retractible 4.89 % 2.08 % 106,682 0.12 36 0.0165 % 2,657.8
FloatingReset 2.54 % 2.97 % 77,620 6.26 8 0.0321 % 2,345.3
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
MFC.PR.K FixedReset -4.18 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.01
Bid-YTW : 4.92 %
MFC.PR.N FixedReset -4.06 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.69
Bid-YTW : 4.71 %
MFC.PR.L FixedReset -3.78 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.65
Bid-YTW : 5.21 %
MFC.PR.M FixedReset -3.68 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.02
Bid-YTW : 4.60 %
FTS.PR.K FixedReset -3.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 21.01
Evaluated at bid price : 21.01
Bid-YTW : 3.68 %
FTS.PR.G FixedReset -3.16 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 21.12
Evaluated at bid price : 21.12
Bid-YTW : 3.68 %
BAM.PF.G FixedReset -2.97 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.56
Evaluated at bid price : 23.55
Bid-YTW : 4.04 %
BAM.PF.F FixedReset -2.90 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.53
Evaluated at bid price : 23.40
Bid-YTW : 4.06 %
BNS.PR.Z FixedReset -2.90 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.75
Bid-YTW : 4.56 %
SLF.PR.G FixedReset -2.47 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.16
Bid-YTW : 7.36 %
TRP.PR.B FixedReset -2.44 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 13.61
Evaluated at bid price : 13.61
Bid-YTW : 3.81 %
TRP.PR.D FixedReset -2.40 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.22
Evaluated at bid price : 22.80
Bid-YTW : 3.60 %
BAM.PF.E FixedReset -2.38 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.01
Evaluated at bid price : 22.55
Bid-YTW : 3.97 %
ENB.PR.D FixedReset -2.33 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 18.02
Evaluated at bid price : 18.02
Bid-YTW : 4.62 %
ENB.PR.F FixedReset -2.25 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 18.66
Evaluated at bid price : 18.66
Bid-YTW : 4.63 %
BMO.PR.Q FixedReset -2.22 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.00
Bid-YTW : 4.52 %
BAM.PR.Z FixedReset -2.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.92
Evaluated at bid price : 23.80
Bid-YTW : 4.05 %
BAM.PF.A FixedReset -2.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.64
Evaluated at bid price : 23.45
Bid-YTW : 4.05 %
MFC.PR.J FixedReset -1.97 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.35
Bid-YTW : 3.96 %
ENB.PR.Y FixedReset -1.97 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 18.43
Evaluated at bid price : 18.43
Bid-YTW : 4.62 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset -1.90 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.60
Bid-YTW : 5.49 %
RY.PR.H FixedReset -1.90 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.95
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 3.24 %
BAM.PR.X FixedReset -1.89 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 16.59
Evaluated at bid price : 16.59
Bid-YTW : 4.26 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset -1.59 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.57
Evaluated at bid price : 23.50
Bid-YTW : 3.52 %
TD.PF.D FixedReset -1.52 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 23.01
Evaluated at bid price : 24.62
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %
HSE.PR.C FixedReset -1.48 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.75
Evaluated at bid price : 23.90
Bid-YTW : 4.19 %
FTS.PR.M FixedReset -1.48 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.80
Evaluated at bid price : 24.00
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %
PWF.PR.T FixedReset -1.46 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.99
Evaluated at bid price : 24.26
Bid-YTW : 3.36 %
BNS.PR.Y FixedReset -1.42 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.50
Bid-YTW : 4.16 %
ENB.PR.H FixedReset -1.39 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 17.01
Evaluated at bid price : 17.01
Bid-YTW : 4.62 %
ENB.PR.B FixedReset -1.34 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 17.67
Evaluated at bid price : 17.67
Bid-YTW : 4.70 %
FTS.PR.J Perpetual-Premium -1.34 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 23.95
Evaluated at bid price : 24.36
Bid-YTW : 4.92 %
TD.PF.C FixedReset -1.32 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.75
Evaluated at bid price : 23.90
Bid-YTW : 3.26 %
PWF.PR.S Perpetual-Premium -1.28 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 24.22
Evaluated at bid price : 24.63
Bid-YTW : 4.86 %
BMO.PR.T FixedReset -1.18 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.96
Evaluated at bid price : 24.31
Bid-YTW : 3.22 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset -1.16 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.52
Bid-YTW : 6.08 %
MFC.PR.G FixedReset -1.12 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.76
Bid-YTW : 3.99 %
CU.PR.D Perpetual-Premium -1.11 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 24.55
Evaluated at bid price : 25.02
Bid-YTW : 4.94 %
TD.PF.A FixedReset -1.03 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.85
Evaluated at bid price : 24.10
Bid-YTW : 3.24 %
TRP.PR.A FixedReset 1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 18.85
Evaluated at bid price : 18.85
Bid-YTW : 3.78 %
BAM.PR.C Floater 1.06 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 14.32
Evaluated at bid price : 14.32
Bid-YTW : 3.50 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset 1.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.56
Bid-YTW : 3.81 %
ENB.PR.T FixedReset 1.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 19.35
Evaluated at bid price : 19.35
Bid-YTW : 4.50 %
TD.PF.B FixedReset 1.14 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.85
Evaluated at bid price : 24.05
Bid-YTW : 3.24 %
BAM.PF.D Perpetual-Discount 1.71 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.84
Evaluated at bid price : 23.14
Bid-YTW : 5.32 %
BAM.PR.K Floater 2.75 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 14.20
Evaluated at bid price : 14.20
Bid-YTW : 3.53 %
PWF.PR.A Floater 3.61 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 17.20
Evaluated at bid price : 17.20
Bid-YTW : 2.92 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
CM.PR.Q FixedReset 121,083 Scotia crossed 30,000 at 24.82. TD crossed 40,000 at the same price.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 23.07
Evaluated at bid price : 24.80
Bid-YTW : 3.51 %
NA.PR.W FixedReset 104,100 Nesbitt crossed 20,000 at 24.50. TD crossed 75,000 at the same price.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.95
Evaluated at bid price : 24.38
Bid-YTW : 3.18 %
CM.PR.O FixedReset 92,495 Nesbitt crossed 50,000 at 24.25.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.94
Evaluated at bid price : 24.25
Bid-YTW : 3.27 %
RY.PR.J FixedReset 77,018 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 23.10
Evaluated at bid price : 24.85
Bid-YTW : 3.48 %
NA.PR.S FixedReset 76,755 Nesbitt crossed 30,000 at 24.82; TD crossed 25,000 at the same price.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 23.17
Evaluated at bid price : 24.80
Bid-YTW : 3.25 %
TD.PF.D FixedReset 73,580 RBC crossed 50,000 at 24.80.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 23.01
Evaluated at bid price : 24.62
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %
There were 64 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
MFC.PR.M FixedReset Quote: 23.02 – 24.45
Spot Rate : 1.4300
Average : 0.9255

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.02
Bid-YTW : 4.60 %

MFC.PR.L FixedReset Quote: 21.65 – 22.75
Spot Rate : 1.1000
Average : 0.7477

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.65
Bid-YTW : 5.21 %

BAM.PF.G FixedReset Quote: 23.55 – 24.25
Spot Rate : 0.7000
Average : 0.3867

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.56
Evaluated at bid price : 23.55
Bid-YTW : 4.04 %

BAM.PF.F FixedReset Quote: 23.40 – 23.80
Spot Rate : 0.4000
Average : 0.2412

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 22.53
Evaluated at bid price : 23.40
Bid-YTW : 4.06 %

MFC.PR.K FixedReset Quote: 22.01 – 22.42
Spot Rate : 0.4100
Average : 0.2612

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.01
Bid-YTW : 4.92 %

ENB.PR.F FixedReset Quote: 18.66 – 19.19
Spot Rate : 0.5300
Average : 0.3880

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-15
Maturity Price : 18.66
Evaluated at bid price : 18.66
Bid-YTW : 4.63 %

New Issues

New Issue: TD FixedReset, 3.70%+287

The Toronto-Dominion Bank has announced:

a domestic public offering of Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series 9 (the “Series 9 Shares”).

TD has entered into an agreement with a group of underwriters led by TD Securities Inc. to issue, on a bought deal basis, 8 million Series 9 Shares at a price of $25.00 per share to raise gross proceeds of $200 million. TD has also granted the underwriters an option to purchase, on the same terms, up to an additional 2 million Series 9 Shares. This option is exercisable in whole or in part by the underwriters at any time up to two business days prior to closing.

The Series 9 Shares will yield 3.70% annually, with dividends payable quarterly, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of TD, for the initial period ending October 31, 2020. Thereafter, the dividend rate will reset every five years at a level of 2.87% over the then five-year Government of Canada bond yield.

Subject to regulatory approval, on October 31, 2020 and on October 31 every 5 years thereafter, TD may redeem the Series 9 Shares, in whole or in part, at $25.00 per share. Subject to TD’s right of redemption and certain other conditions, holders of the Series 9 Shares will have the right to convert their shares into Non-Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Shares, Series 10 (the “Series 10 Shares”), on October 31, 2020, and on October 31 every five years thereafter. Holders of the Series 10 Shares will be entitled to receive quarterly floating rate dividends, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of TD, equal to the three-month Government of Canada Treasury bill yield plus 2.87%.

The expected closing date is April 24, 2015. TD will make an application to list the Series 9 Shares as of the closing date on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The net proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes.

The Bank, as previously announced, will redeem its outstanding Non-cumulative Redeemable Class A First Preferred Shares, Series R on May 1, 2015.

The redemption of TD.PR.R has been previously reported on PrefBlog.

This new issue actually looks pretty reasonable. If we look at the standard Implied Volatility calculation …:

impVol_TD_150415_All
Click for Big

… we see that the Implied Volatility is very high, at 40%+, but that it appears that the (expected) relative richness of the NVCC non-compliant issues might be throwing off the calculation.

If the calculation is repeated using only the NVCC-compliant issues as sources of error …:

impVol_TD_150415_NVCC
Click For Big

… we see that our fears of material miscalculation are not realized: the Implied Volatility remains at 40%+.

This number is too high, ridiculously high. Although such high levels can be maintained for lengthy periods of time, they are associated with issues trading near par; the lowest price for a NVCC-compliant TD issues is 23.90 (for TD.PF.C, resetting 2020-1-31 at GOC-5 + 225bp), which is close enough to par that some people (I am sure) figure that it will always be close to par (an idea that has been dubbed the par always, shit forever hypothesis.

I conclude that the new issue is very attractively priced relative to the other TD NVCC FixedResets, as in the event of a spread-widening and consequent decline in price of each element of the series, the lower spread issues will significantly underperform as Implied Volatility declines to a more reasonable figure; of course, it is entirely possible and completely logical that the Implied Volatility will decline (flattening the curve) even in the absence of spread-widening for this series.

Market Action

April 14, 2015

SEC Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar managed to deliver notice of his own incompetence and a slap in the face to Canadian regulators simultaneously:

Now let’s talk about one particular type of complex security known as structured notes — which has now become a $45 billion market — and where the registered offerings are targeted at retail investors.[22] In fact, recent data shows that an estimated 99% of all purchasers of these products are retail investors.[23] These securities are issued by large financial institutions and offer returns that are linked to the performance of a reference asset or index.[24] In their most basic form, structured notes are investment products that typically have a fixed maturity that includes a bond component and an embedded derivative.[25] What isn’t always made clear are the risks of these debt look-alikes — of which there can be many. As the SEC recently pointed out in an Investor Bulletin, the risks of these products include, among others, the products’ complex payoff structures, market risk on the reference asset or index, high fees, a lack of a liquid secondary market, opaque pricing, credit risk, and complicated payoff structures that can make it difficult to assess value, risk, and potential for growth.[26] Moreover, there are a wide variety of structured notes that have different risk profiles — some of these examples include principal protected notes, reverse convertible notes, enhanced participation or leveraged notes, and hybrid notes that combine multiple characteristics.[27]

Structured notes grabbed widespread public notoriety in 2008 when Lehman Brothers filed the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history.[28] Lehman Brothers had sold unsecured debt called “principal protected notes” that became worthless when the firm collapsed, and investors lost billions of dollars as a result.[29] In essence, the securities sold as “principal protected” were really not “protected;” in fact, the “protection” that was offered was tied to the creditworthiness of the issuer, which cratered along with Lehman Brothers. These products have been referred to as “Trojan horses” that ultimately enter into an investment portfolio and destroy people’s life savings.[30]

Well, yeah. A guarantee is only as good as the guarantor. Since when is that news? Meanwhile, here in Canada:


Click for Big

There’s an interesting story about emerging battery technologies and players on Bloomberg.

batteries
Click for Big

$500 sounds like an awful lot to pay to store $0.20 (tops) worth of electricity, but:

[MIT Professor Donald] Sadoway, a 65-year-old Canadian, defies the nerdy inventor mold. He’s been known to teach his class in a tuxedo while serving champagne. Yet he’s all science when explaining batteries. He says Ambri can top lithium-ion on price and longevity with tricky chemistry that he and a former student have finally perfected. The battery combines two metals Sadoway won’t disclose that have different weights and melting points. He separates them with a salt layer. Electric currents heat the metals to as much as 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 degrees Fahrenheit) to pass electrons through the molten salt. That helps the metals hold more energy. Unlike the lithium-ion in laptops, which can take about 400 charges and last four years, Sadoway says his batteries can take 10,000 charges and work for at least a decade.

So if you do it 10,000 times, that’s $0.05 per cycle in capital cost, and the arbitrage over time just got a lot more interesting.

Sadoway is one of the first out of the gate. This year, he plans to ship six 10-ton prototypes packed with hundreds of liquid metal cells to wind and solar farms in Hawaii, a microgrid in Alaska, and a Consolidated Edison substation in Manhattan. Ambri’s battery will store power Con Ed offloads when demand is low. Then, rather than cranking up another coal- or gas-fired plant, the utility will drain the battery when New Yorkers want more juice

It is of great interest to learn that AltaGas has issued 2-Year USD FRNs at USD 3-Month LIBOR + 85bp. 3-Month LIBOR will generally be roughly equal to 3-Month Treasuries plus a spread, the famous TED Spread, currently about 25bp, where it is most of the time. So, for the sake of round-figures, say these notes have been issued at 3-Month Treasuries +125.

Now compare this with, for instance, ALA.PR.A, which currently pays $1.25 p.a. and will become exchangeable into a FloatingReset paying 3-Month bills+317bp at the end of October and is bid today at 19.35 to yield 4.51% to perpetuity (assuming a yield on the underlying Canada of 0.78%. That’s quite the difference!

We can, and almost certainly will, argue for hours about how much effect there is of tax effects, currency, maturity date and liquidity in the difference between these spreads. But it’s a fascinating contrast anyway.

It was a mixed day for the Canadian preferred share market, with PerpetualDiscounts down 73bp, FixedResets off 10bp and DeemedRetractibles gaining 1bp. The Performance Highlights table continues to illustrate a high level of volatility. Volume was above average.

For as long as the FixedReset market is so violently unsettled, I’ll keep publishing updates of the more interesting and meaningful series of FixedResets’ Implied Volatilities. This doesn’t include Enbridge because although Enbridge has a large number of issues outstanding, all of which are quite liquid, the range of Issue Reset Spreads is too small for decent conclusions. The low is 212bp (ENB.PR.H; second-lowest is ENB.PR.D at 237bp) and the high is a mere 268 for ENB.PF.G.

Remember that all rich /cheap assessments are:
» based on Implied Volatility Theory only
» are relative only to other FixedResets from the same issuer
» assume constant GOC-5 yield
» assume constant Implied Volatility
» assume constant spread

Here’s TRP:

impVol_TRP_150414
Click for Big

TRP.PR.E, which resets 2019-10-30 at +235, is bid at 23.88 to be $1.66 rich, while TRP.PR.C, resetting 2016-1-30 at +154, is $1.05 cheap at its bid price of 15.45.

impVol_MFC_150414
Click for Big

Another excellent fit, but the numbers are perplexing. Implied Volatility for MFC continues to be a conundrum, although it declined substantially today. It is still too high if we consider that NVCC rules will never apply to these issues; it is still too low if we consider them to be NVCC non-compliant issues (and therefore with Deemed Maturities in the call schedule).

Most expensive is MFC.PR.N, resetting at +230 on 2020-3-19, bid at 23.65 to be $0.51 rich, while MFC.PR.H, resetting at +313bp on 2017-3-19, is bid at 25.16 to be $0.85 cheap. The lowest spread issue, MFC.PR.F, is noticeably off the curve defined by its peers.

impVol_BAM_150414
Click for Big

The cheapest issue relative to its peers is BAM.PR.R, resetting at +230bp on 2016-6-30, bid at 19.25 to be $0.90 cheap. BAM.PF.E, resetting at +255bp 2020-3-31 is bid at 23.10 and appears to be $1.29 rich.

impVol_FTS_150414
Click for Big

This is just weird because the middle is expensive and the ends are cheap but anyway … FTS.PR.H, with a spread of +145bp, and bid at 15.40, looks $1.12 cheap and resets 2015-6-1. FTS.PR.K, with a spread of +205bp and resetting 2019-3-1, is bid at 21.77 and is $0.71 rich.

pairs_FR_150414
Click for Big

Investment-grade pairs other than TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F now predict an average over the next five years of about 0.30%. TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F remains an outlier, predicting 1.03%. The DC.PR.B / DC.PR.D pair is still off the charts and now predicts an average bill rate over the next 4 3/4 years of -1.18%.

pairs_FF_150414
Click for Big

Shall we just say that this exhibits a high level of confidence in the continued rapacity of Canadian banks?

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 -1.9471 % 2,139.5
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -1.9471 % 3,740.9
Floater 3.39 % 3.50 % 58,788 18.54 4 -1.9471 % 2,274.5
OpRet 4.43 % -1.52 % 36,854 0.13 2 0.0000 % 2,762.1
SplitShare 4.57 % 4.56 % 61,508 3.42 3 0.0534 % 3,225.9
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 2,525.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.31 % 0.73 % 65,242 0.08 25 0.0126 % 2,524.6
Perpetual-Discount 5.15 % 5.07 % 150,570 14.91 9 -0.7257 % 2,770.6
FixedReset 4.55 % 3.82 % 263,779 16.40 85 -0.0981 % 2,346.0
Deemed-Retractible 4.89 % 1.93 % 107,614 0.12 36 0.0055 % 2,657.3
FloatingReset 2.54 % 2.95 % 76,314 6.26 8 0.1232 % 2,344.5
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
CIU.PR.C FixedReset -3.22 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 15.92
Evaluated at bid price : 15.92
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %
PWF.PR.A Floater -3.15 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 16.60
Evaluated at bid price : 16.60
Bid-YTW : 3.03 %
BAM.PR.K Floater -2.88 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 13.82
Evaluated at bid price : 13.82
Bid-YTW : 3.63 %
BAM.PF.D Perpetual-Discount -2.57 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.39
Evaluated at bid price : 22.75
Bid-YTW : 5.41 %
TD.PF.B FixedReset -2.54 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.73
Evaluated at bid price : 23.78
Bid-YTW : 3.29 %
BAM.PF.B FixedReset -1.81 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 21.42
Evaluated at bid price : 21.75
Bid-YTW : 4.11 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset -1.58 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 3.94 %
BAM.PR.X FixedReset -1.28 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 16.91
Evaluated at bid price : 16.91
Bid-YTW : 4.18 %
ENB.PR.N FixedReset -1.26 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 19.60
Evaluated at bid price : 19.60
Bid-YTW : 4.58 %
ENB.PR.T FixedReset -1.24 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 19.14
Evaluated at bid price : 19.14
Bid-YTW : 4.55 %
ENB.PR.B FixedReset -1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 17.91
Evaluated at bid price : 17.91
Bid-YTW : 4.63 %
BAM.PR.C Floater -1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 14.17
Evaluated at bid price : 14.17
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %
BAM.PR.N Perpetual-Discount -1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 21.94
Evaluated at bid price : 22.34
Bid-YTW : 5.34 %
FTS.PR.M FixedReset -1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.95
Evaluated at bid price : 24.36
Bid-YTW : 3.47 %
MFC.PR.N FixedReset 1.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.65
Bid-YTW : 4.20 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset 1.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.75
Evaluated at bid price : 23.88
Bid-YTW : 3.44 %
ENB.PF.G FixedReset 1.73 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 20.60
Evaluated at bid price : 20.60
Bid-YTW : 4.58 %
PWF.PR.P FixedReset 1.83 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 17.23
Evaluated at bid price : 17.23
Bid-YTW : 3.59 %
BAM.PR.R FixedReset 2.01 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 19.25
Evaluated at bid price : 19.25
Bid-YTW : 4.20 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
SLF.PR.I FixedReset 148,432 Nesbitt crossed blocks of 89,600 and 50,000, both at 25.22.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.13
Bid-YTW : 3.61 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset 90,676 Desjardins crossed 12,600 at 24.70. Nesbitt crossed two blocks of 25,000 each at the same price.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 3.94 %
TRP.PR.G FixedReset 87,139 Scotia crossed 25,000 at 25.05, then sold 10,000 to RBC at 25.00. RBC crossed 25,000 at 25.00.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 23.08
Evaluated at bid price : 24.87
Bid-YTW : 3.68 %
TD.PR.R Deemed-Retractible 87,009 TD crossed 45,400 at 25.49.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2015-05-30
Maturity Price : 25.50
Evaluated at bid price : 25.48
Bid-YTW : 4.24 %
BAM.PF.G FixedReset 79,566 TD crossed blocks of 25,600 shares, 40,000 and 12,000, all at 24.27.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.88
Evaluated at bid price : 24.27
Bid-YTW : 3.89 %
HSE.PR.E FixedReset 63,420 RBC crossed 40,000 at 25.22.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 23.21
Evaluated at bid price : 25.15
Bid-YTW : 4.28 %
There were 39 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
TD.PF.B FixedReset Quote: 23.78 – 24.45
Spot Rate : 0.6700
Average : 0.4089

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.73
Evaluated at bid price : 23.78
Bid-YTW : 3.29 %

ENB.PR.J FixedReset Quote: 20.10 – 20.49
Spot Rate : 0.3900
Average : 0.2363

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 20.10
Evaluated at bid price : 20.10
Bid-YTW : 4.50 %

BAM.PF.D Perpetual-Discount Quote: 22.75 – 23.12
Spot Rate : 0.3700
Average : 0.2163

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.39
Evaluated at bid price : 22.75
Bid-YTW : 5.41 %

BAM.PR.K Floater Quote: 13.82 – 14.30
Spot Rate : 0.4800
Average : 0.3468

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 13.82
Evaluated at bid price : 13.82
Bid-YTW : 3.63 %

CU.PR.G Perpetual-Discount Quote: 23.30 – 23.62
Spot Rate : 0.3200
Average : 0.1956

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 22.99
Evaluated at bid price : 23.30
Bid-YTW : 4.87 %

CIU.PR.C FixedReset Quote: 15.92 – 16.59
Spot Rate : 0.6700
Average : 0.5566

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-14
Maturity Price : 15.92
Evaluated at bid price : 15.92
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %

Issue Comments

AIM.PR.A, AIM.PR.B & AIM.PR.C Downgraded To Pfd-3(low) By DBRS

DBRS has announced that it:

has today downgraded Aimia Inc.’s (Aimia or the Company) Issuer Rating and Senior Secured Debt rating to BBB (low) and its Preferred Shares rating to Pfd-3 (low). The trends are all Stable. The rating action reflects a deterioration in Aimia’s earnings profile, caused by a number of developments which DBRS believes will lead to a decline in operating income over the near to medium term.

In its press release on September 2, 2014, DBRS stated that it believed adjusted EBITDA (excluding non-recurring items and distributions from Premier Loyalty & Marketing’s Club Premier loyalty program) would decrease to approximately $300 million in 2014 because of the Aeroplan program transformation and financial cards agreement with TD Bank Group (TD; rated AA with a Stable trend by DBRS) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC; rated AA with a Stable trend by DBRS). Going forward, DBRS expected that operating performance would benefit from increased customer engagement resulting from the enhancements to the Aeroplan program as well as higher pricing from more favourable contract terms.

While DBRS recognizes elements of progress made to date following the program transformation, a number of factors have caused management’s guidance for adjusted EBITDA to fall to approximately $235 million in 2015. These factors include margin pressure in the Aeroplan business (as a result of lower yield, reduced card spending and increased costs of rewards), the non-renewal of Groupe Auchan at Nectar Italia (its largest partner in Italy), the loss of a major client in its proprietary loyalty services business in Canada and the yet-to-be-determined impact, if any, from credit card interchange fee reform.

As such, DBRS forecasts that credit metrics will weaken to a level that is no longer appropriate for the previous rating category (i.e., gross debt-to-adjusted EBITDA before distributions of approximately 1.75 times (x) to 2.25x and adjusted EBITDA interest coverage of around 7.0x). DBRS now expects gross debt-to-EBITDA to increase to approximately 2.8x at the end of 2015 and adjusted EBITDA interest coverage to decrease to 6.2x, levels more appropriate with the BBB (low) and Pfd-3 (low) rating categories.

The Stable trends reflect DBRS’s view that Aimia will begin to grow its earnings off the new baseline based on the strength of its brands and relationships with key commercial partners. Gross billings should benefit from its strong market positions in Canada and the United Kingdom and its steadily improving geographic and sponsor/partner diversification, as the Company continues to grow its data analytics business and expand globally. The trends also acknowledge Aimia’s exposure to consumer spending and redemption patterns, the significant but moderating degree of revenue concentration and increasing loyalty program offerings from competitors.

In terms of financial profile, DBRS believes Aimia will continue to be a substantial free cash flow generating company. DBRS expects that in 2015, free cash flow after dividends will be approximately $80 million. Free cash flow along with cash on hand is expected to be applied toward share repurchases and small tuck-in acquisitions rather than to repay debt. DBRS believes that Aimia has adequate capacity in the new rating category to execute its business strategy and capital allocation plans over the near to medium term. DBRS forecasts that key credit metrics should remain appropriate for the new rating category (i.e., gross debt-to-adjusted EBITDA before distributions of approximately 2.25x to 3.0x and adjusted EBITDA coverage near 6.0x).

The recent 43% conversion of AIM.PR.A to AIM.PR.B was reported on PrefBlog. The September 2 DBRS ratings confirmation was also reported on PrefBlog.

AIM.PR.A, AIM.PR.B and AIM.PR.C are all tracked by HIMIPref™; all are relegated to the Scraps index on credit concerns.

Market Action

April 13, 2015

There’s some interesting news about drones:

Amazon.com Inc.’s proposed use of drones could drive down the cost to deliver small packages crosstown to about $1 — a fraction of existing same-day delivery options, according to a study by a financial research company.

The report from New York-based ARK Invest also suggests deliveries may arrive in as soon as 30 minutes. The research tried to quantify the savings from the use of drones compared with delivery trucks and couriers.

Amazon has pushed the U.S. government for permission to test unmanned aircraft as it seeks to develop drones to speed shipping products. The Federal Aviation Administration gave the Seattle-based online retailer a waiver allowing flights as fast as 100 miles (161 kilometers) an hour and as high as 400 feet off the ground, according to a letter from the agency dated Wednesday.

Amazon would need to hire thousands of operators, each capable of monitoring multiple drones simultaneously, to ensure safe takeoffs and landings, according to the study, which included the personnel cost in its calculations. Most of the drone flight would be automated, according to the study, which assumes each package weighs as much as 5 pounds and each delivery is no more than 10 miles.

This is of interest on many levels: primarily, of course, I’m interested in getting the things that I ordered quickly – when I buy the latest installment of Teenage Vampire Stewardesses Go To Nursing School, I want it right away! Additionally, there is the potential for skeet shooting with prizes! And finally, what happens when more than one company does it? Will we need to have drone Air Traffic Controllers? Or, given that the potential for death and injury is less with package-delivering drones, will it be enough to have some kind of automated system? Will an automated system work with visual sensors, echo-location or self-responding with GPS and transponders? Stay tuned!

It will not have escaped notice that immediately following the publication of the story in which I discussed upcoming dividend cuts on reset, the preferred share market tanked, particularly FixedResets. The enormous amount of influence I have over the market has also impressed a lot of my groupies, who send me gushing eMails:

Your comments on preferred share recently were totally out of line. Irresponsible comments about the yields on all rate reset preffered. shares. You should be sued on those comments. I am too poor to sue you but I wish I could.

Politics is getting really complicated. First there was the Wildrose Party in Alberta and now I understand there’s a new political movement in Saskatchewan:

landlessPeasants
Click for Big

Saskatchewan is clamping down on the sale of the province’s farmland to major Canadian pension funds and institutional investors, restricting deep-pocketed groups at a time when land prices are climbing.

Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said Monday that Saskatchewan will undertake a review of provincial farmland ownership rules. In the meantime, pension plans, administrators of pension fund assets and trusts will not be allowed to purchase land, adding to the already stringent rules in place to prevent foreign investors from profiting from the industry.

The move to change ownership rules comes after Canada Pension Plan Investment Board paid $128-million for 115,000 acres of Saskatchewan farmland that produced wheat, barley, canola and other crops in 2013. The acquisition has become a hot-button issue as the province seeks to protect small farmers while encouraging growth in its agriculture industry.

Used to be that a buck was a buck; in fact, I understand that that’s why money was invented. But it seems very fashionable to declare that some dollars are better than other dollars; the system of licenses might even get some senior bureaucrats some very nice dinners and hockey tickets.

This story about abusive staffing practices rang a bell for me:

Gap Inc. and other retailers were told by New York’s attorney general that using on-call shifts may be illegal, bringing fresh criticism to a practice that forces workers to make themselves available on short notice.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent letters to 13 retailers on April 10 seeking information about their reliance on the staffing approach. He warned the companies that making workers stay on call may be violating state employment law.

The attorney general said he received reports that a growing number of employees are working such shifts, which require them to check in as little as a few hours in advance to see if they’re needed. A range of clothing and department-store chains, including Sears Holdings Corp., Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Target Corp., all received letters on the issue — the latest attempt by the high-profile prosecutor to rein in what he sees as unscrupulous retail practices.

My cutie is a nurse. As many of you know, the complete absence of anybody with any kind of brain in the health care system means that many, if not most, nurses can only find part-time jobs. One of her jobs is at a hospital, as a casual, which means she has to provide them with a minimum amount of availability every month, with a minimum amount of that to be weekends. If they need her, they’ll call her; I believe a health minister read a newspaper article about ‘Just In Time Inventory’ one day and decided that this would be his legacy. So anyway, it’s not bad enough that she’ll get called at 4:30am to leave the house at 5:00am to commute to a 6:00am shift start time; the worst part is, she’s neither paid for the availability, nor is she guaranteed a certain proportion of calls. So it’s entirely possible that she could block out 20 shifts availability over a month, not get a single call, and get a grand total of zero on her paycheque.

The system may have been inspired by a politician, but it was definitely designed by an MBA. And then the news is filled with interviews with the big shots, utterly baffled regarding why so many young nurses leave the profession. Why do so many go to the States? Hell, how much experience of life do you really need before you realize that if you treat your staff like shit, you get shit staff?

It was a poor day for the Canadian preferred share market, with PerpetualDiscounts losing 55bp, FixedResets down 32bp and DeemedRetractibles off 7bp. The lengthy Performance Highlights table is dominated by FixedReset losers, but there were quite a few winners on the day. Volume was very high.

For as long as the FixedReset market is so violently unsettled, I’ll keep publishing updates of the more interesting and meaningful series of FixedResets’ Implied Volatilities. This doesn’t include Enbridge because although Enbridge has a large number of issues outstanding, all of which are quite liquid, the range of Issue Reset Spreads is too small for decent conclusions. The low is 212bp (ENB.PR.H; second-lowest is ENB.PR.D at 237bp) and the high is a mere 268 for ENB.PF.G.

Remember that all rich /cheap assessments are:
» based on Implied Volatility Theory only
» are relative only to other FixedResets from the same issuer
» assume constant GOC-5 yield
» assume constant Implied Volatility
» assume constant spread

Here’s TRP:

impVol_TRP_150413
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TRP.PR.E, which resets 2019-10-30 at +235, is bid at 23.60 to be $1.38 rich, while TRP.PR.C, resetting 2016-1-30 at +154, is $0.88 cheap at its bid price of 15.60.

impVol_MFC_150413
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Another excellent fit, but the numbers are perplexing. Implied Volatility for MFC continues to be a conundrum, although it declined substantially today. It is still too high if we consider that NVCC rules will never apply to these issues; it is still too low if we consider them to be NVCC non-compliant issues (and therefore with Deemed Maturities in the call schedule).

Most expensive is MFC.PR.M, resetting at +236 on 2019-12-19, bid at 24.00 to be $0.60 rich, while MFC.PR.H, resetting at +313bp on 2017-3-19, is bid at 25.16 to be $0.90 cheap. The lowest spread issue, MFC.PR.F, is noticeably off the curve defined by its peers.

impVol_BAM_150413
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The cheapest issue relative to its peers is BAM.PR.R, resetting at +230bp on 2016-6-30, bid at 18.87 to be $1.31 cheap. BAM.PF.E, resetting at +255bp 2020-3-31 is bid at 23.10 and appears to be $1.27 rich.

impVol_FTS_150413
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This is just weird because the middle is expensive and the ends are cheap but anyway … FTS.PR.H, with a spread of +145bp, and bid at 15.25, looks $1.34 cheap and resets 2015-6-1. FTS.PR.K, with a spread of +205bp and resetting 2019-3-1, is bid at 21.62 and is $0.52 rich.

pairs_FR_150413
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Investment-grade pairs other than TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F now predict an average over the next five years of about 0.30%. TRP.PR.A / TRP.PR.F remains an outlier, predicting 0.84%. The DC.PR.B / DC.PR.D pair is still off the charts and now predicts an average bill rate over the next 4 3/4 years of -0.76%.

pairs_FF_150413
Click for Big

Shall we just say that this exhibits a high level of confidence in the continued rapacity of Canadian banks?

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 0.5018 % 2,182.0
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.5018 % 3,815.2
Floater 3.32 % 3.48 % 58,104 18.58 4 0.5018 % 2,319.6
OpRet 4.43 % -2.93 % 36,059 0.14 2 0.0394 % 2,762.1
SplitShare 4.57 % 4.52 % 62,048 3.42 3 0.0267 % 3,224.1
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0394 % 2,525.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.31 % 2.29 % 65,412 0.08 25 0.0474 % 2,524.2
Perpetual-Discount 5.11 % 5.05 % 151,737 15.01 9 -0.5530 % 2,790.9
FixedReset 4.55 % 3.78 % 269,994 16.41 85 -0.3164 % 2,348.3
Deemed-Retractible 4.89 % 2.14 % 108,202 0.13 36 -0.0659 % 2,657.2
FloatingReset 2.54 % 2.95 % 75,264 6.26 8 -0.4478 % 2,341.6
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
FTS.PR.K FixedReset -4.29 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 21.32
Evaluated at bid price : 21.62
Bid-YTW : 3.54 %
MFC.PR.F FixedReset -4.09 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.36
Bid-YTW : 6.85 %
TRP.PR.F FloatingReset -4.00 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 18.25
Evaluated at bid price : 18.25
Bid-YTW : 3.43 %
MFC.PR.L FixedReset -3.62 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.60
Bid-YTW : 4.67 %
HSE.PR.A FixedReset -3.15 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 15.70
Evaluated at bid price : 15.70
Bid-YTW : 4.16 %
FTS.PR.G FixedReset -2.61 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 21.72
Evaluated at bid price : 22.00
Bid-YTW : 3.50 %
MFC.PR.K FixedReset -2.41 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.05
Bid-YTW : 4.34 %
BAM.PF.A FixedReset -2.24 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 22.91
Evaluated at bid price : 24.00
Bid-YTW : 3.93 %
BAM.PF.B FixedReset -1.99 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 21.79
Evaluated at bid price : 22.15
Bid-YTW : 4.03 %
PWF.PR.P FixedReset -1.97 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 16.92
Evaluated at bid price : 16.92
Bid-YTW : 3.66 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset -1.89 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.80
Bid-YTW : 5.37 %
BNS.PR.Z FixedReset -1.79 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.45
Bid-YTW : 4.04 %
MFC.PR.N FixedReset -1.47 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.40
Bid-YTW : 4.33 %
BMO.PR.Q FixedReset -1.40 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.50
Bid-YTW : 4.14 %
MFC.PR.C Deemed-Retractible -1.18 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.21
Bid-YTW : 4.98 %
GWO.PR.N FixedReset -1.11 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.96
Bid-YTW : 6.76 %
BAM.PR.R FixedReset -1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 18.87
Evaluated at bid price : 18.87
Bid-YTW : 4.29 %
TRP.PR.D FixedReset 1.00 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 22.42
Evaluated at bid price : 23.15
Bid-YTW : 3.53 %
VNR.PR.A FixedReset 1.14 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 23.05
Evaluated at bid price : 23.99
Bid-YTW : 3.78 %
ENB.PF.A FixedReset 1.15 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 20.26
Evaluated at bid price : 20.26
Bid-YTW : 4.60 %
ENB.PF.G FixedReset 1.15 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 20.25
Evaluated at bid price : 20.25
Bid-YTW : 4.67 %
ELF.PR.H Perpetual-Premium 1.26 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-04-17
Maturity Price : 25.25
Evaluated at bid price : 25.75
Bid-YTW : 5.01 %
BAM.PR.X FixedReset 1.36 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 17.13
Evaluated at bid price : 17.13
Bid-YTW : 4.12 %
ENB.PR.J FixedReset 1.86 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 20.27
Evaluated at bid price : 20.27
Bid-YTW : 4.46 %
CIU.PR.C FixedReset 2.17 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 16.45
Evaluated at bid price : 16.45
Bid-YTW : 3.43 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset 2.52 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 22.62
Evaluated at bid price : 23.60
Bid-YTW : 3.50 %
PWF.PR.A Floater 3.88 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 17.14
Evaluated at bid price : 17.14
Bid-YTW : 2.93 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
TD.PF.D FixedReset 144,500 TD crossed 25,000 at 25.03. Scotia crossed blocks of 50,000 shares, 35,000 shares, 15,000 and 15,900, all at the same price.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 23.15
Evaluated at bid price : 25.01
Bid-YTW : 3.47 %
CU.PR.C FixedReset 125,178 TD crossed 61,000 at 24.90; Nesbitt crossed 40,000 at the same price.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 23.45
Evaluated at bid price : 24.73
Bid-YTW : 3.23 %
FTS.PR.H FixedReset 87,914 RBC bought 82,400 from Desjardins at 15.49.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 15.25
Evaluated at bid price : 15.25
Bid-YTW : 3.70 %
BMO.PR.W FixedReset 74,000 Nesbitt crossed 40,000 at 24.40.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 22.95
Evaluated at bid price : 24.36
Bid-YTW : 3.18 %
RY.PR.Z FixedReset 70,544 RBC crossed blocks of 25,000 and 28,300, both at 24.85.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 23.17
Evaluated at bid price : 24.81
Bid-YTW : 3.11 %
CM.PR.P FixedReset 69,700 TD crossed 65,000 at 24.32.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 22.92
Evaluated at bid price : 24.32
Bid-YTW : 3.17 %
There were 52 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
MFC.PR.L FixedReset Quote: 22.60 – 23.15
Spot Rate : 0.5500
Average : 0.3739

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.60
Bid-YTW : 4.67 %

BAM.PF.A FixedReset Quote: 24.00 – 24.40
Spot Rate : 0.4000
Average : 0.2412

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 22.91
Evaluated at bid price : 24.00
Bid-YTW : 3.93 %

FTS.PR.J Perpetual-Premium Quote: 24.55 – 25.00
Spot Rate : 0.4500
Average : 0.3218

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 24.13
Evaluated at bid price : 24.55
Bid-YTW : 4.88 %

FTS.PR.G FixedReset Quote: 22.00 – 22.37
Spot Rate : 0.3700
Average : 0.2441

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 21.72
Evaluated at bid price : 22.00
Bid-YTW : 3.50 %

TRP.PR.F FloatingReset Quote: 18.25 – 18.73
Spot Rate : 0.4800
Average : 0.3541

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 18.25
Evaluated at bid price : 18.25
Bid-YTW : 3.43 %

TRP.PR.D FixedReset Quote: 23.15 – 23.68
Spot Rate : 0.5300
Average : 0.4108

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2045-04-13
Maturity Price : 22.42
Evaluated at bid price : 23.15
Bid-YTW : 3.53 %

PrefLetter

April PrefLetter Released!

The April, 2015, edition of PrefLetter has been released and is now available for purchase as the “Previous edition”. Those who subscribe for a full year receive the “Previous edition” as a bonus.

The regular appendices reporting on DeemedRetractibles and FixedResets are included.

PrefLetter may now be purchased by all Canadian residents.

Until further notice, the “Previous Edition” will refer to the April, 2015, issue, while the “Next Edition” will be the May, 2015, issue, scheduled to be prepared as of the close May 8 and eMailed to subscribers prior to market-opening on May 11.

PrefLetter is intended for long term investors seeking issues to buy-and-hold. At least one recommendation from each of the major preferred share sectors is included and discussed.

Note: My verbosity has grown by such leaps and bounds that it is no longer possible to deliver PrefLetter as an eMail attachment – it’s just too big for my software! Instead, I have sent passwords – click on the link in your eMail and your copy will download.

Note: The PrefLetter website has a Subscriber Download Feature. If you have not received your copy, try it!

Note: PrefLetter eMails sometimes runs afoul of spam filters. If you have not received your copy within fifteen minutes of a release notice such as this one, please double check your (company’s) spam filtering policy and your spam repository – there are some hints in the post Sympatico Spam Filters out of Control. If it’s not there, contact me and I’ll get you your copy … somehow!

Note: There have been scattered complaints regarding inability to open PrefLetter in Acrobat Reader, despite my practice of including myself on the subscription list and immediately checking the copy received. I have had the occasional difficulty reading US Government documents, which I was able to resolve by downloading and installing the latest version of Adobe Reader. Also, note that so far, all complaints have been from users of Yahoo Mail. Try saving it to disk first, before attempting to open it.

Note: There have been other scattered complaints that double-clicking on the links in the “PrefLetter Download” email results in a message that the password has already been used. I have been able to reproduce this problem in my own eMail software … the problem is double-clicking. What happens is the first click opens the link and the second click finds that the password has already been used and refuses to work properly. So the moral of the story is: Don’t be a dick! Single Click!

Note: Assiduous Reader DG informs me:

In case you have any other Apple users: you need to install a free App from the apple store called “FileApp”. It comes with it’s own tutorial and allows you to download and save a PDF file.

However, Assiduous Reader Adrian informs me in the comments to the January 2015 release:

Some nitpicking for DG:
FileApp costs $1.19 in the Apple Store.