Canadians keep flocking to foreign investments during pandemic - BNN Bloomberg (2024)

“No place like home” has become “anywhere but here” for Canadian investment portfolios.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians pumped $17.5 billion into foreign securities last November compared to $5.4 billion in October - drastically accelerating a trend that has seen investment dollars flow out of the country since the onset of the pandemic.

The bulk of those Canadian dollars - $7.4 billion - went toward purchases of U.S. shares with a focus on big technology companies, and funds that track broad market indices such as the benchmark S&P 500.

Canadian investors also purchased $4 billion in non-U.S. foreign shares in November.

The massive flow of foreign investments were made by Canadian businesses, governments and big institutional investors, but also include individual retail investors either directly or through pensions, mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

In the first 11 months of 2021, Canadians spent a record high $82 billion on U.S. securities, and it appears to have paid off. Last year, the S&P 500 advanced 27 per cent compared with a more modest 22 per cent gain for Canada’s benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index. The difference was even more stark in 2020 when the S&P 500 posted a 16 per cent gain and the TSX eked out a 2.2 per cent return after the energy sector cratered.

The advantage of investing outside Canada is nothing new to many long-term investors. Factoring total returns over the past 20 years, the S&P 500 has surged in value by 516 per cent, compared with the TSX’s 372 per cent climb. That translates into an average annual compounded rate of return of 9.5 per cent for the S&P 500 versus eight per cent for the TSX.

The trend toward investing abroad is a positive sign for Canadian investment portfolios notoriously tethered to a home bias. Investment savings tend to be heavily skewed toward Canadian publicly traded equities despite the fact that they account for less than three per cent of global equities. Of that three per cent, roughly two-thirds are directly tied to the resource or financial sectors, which proved to be devastating when the energy sector tanked in 2020.

Global diversification can hedge that sort of risk and expose an investment portfolio to a wide variety of opportunities in sectors and geographic regions within the remaining 97 per cent of the global equity market.

At the same time, a relatively strong Canadian dollar is giving Canadian investors more buying power on international markets. With the loonie near 80 cents to the U.S. dollar, Canadians who beefed up U.S. denominated accounts in their registered retirement savings plans (RRSP) and tax-free savings accounts (TFSA) to purchase foreign equities can expect them to hold their value if the loonie heads below 70 cents as it did at the onset of the pandemic.

Most Canadian trading accounts have easy access to buying U.S.-listed stocks directly, which can also provide exposure to the rest of the world since the U.S. dollar is the global standard. Roughly 50 per cent of all publicly traded companies in the world are based in the United States and many operate on a global level. That not only gives investors in U.S. stocks a global reach, but it also puts the onus on the company to hedge all other foreign currencies.

Investing directly in markets outside of Canada and the U.S. can be difficult and expensive for the average investor when you take fees into account, but there are ways.

Most Canadian mutual fund providers offer unhedged U.S. dollar versions of foreign equity funds. You can invest in a broad global fund (all countries) or international fund (all countries minus Canada and the U.S.), or funds that concentrate on specific countries or regions, or global sectors like technology.

Many foreign equity funds are actively managed by investment teams with vast research capabilities and experience in the focus area. Some funds are sub-managed by firms located in the specific geographic region.

Annual fees for that sort of reach and expertise can be up to three per cent of the total amount invested, which is ultimately drawn from the total return.

ETFs generally have the same reach as mutual funds in terms of geographic regions and global sectors. The big difference is they are passively managed. That means holdings are bought and sold according to a preset formula such as market weighting on the underlying index. ETFs are not as effective as mutual funds at adjusting to changes or nuances relating to specific foreign markets.

On the plus side, fees on unhedged foreign ETFs are usually much lower than mutual funds; often below 0.05 per cent on the amount invested annually.

While the vast majority of equities are listed outside Canada, the proper mix of Canadian and foreign equities in a typical Canadian investment portfolio depends on the individual investor. As a general rule, Canadians should have a large portion of Canadian assets because that’s where they live and spend a great deal of their retirements. Canadians who spend a lot of time abroad should have a larger portion of their portfolios in U.S. dollar investments.

A qualified investment adviser should be able to help determine the right mix for your portfolio.

Canadians keep flocking to foreign investments during pandemic - BNN Bloomberg (2024)

FAQs

Why is Canada attractive to foreign investors? ›

The opportunities for global companies to grow in Canada are limitless. Offering preferential access to global markets, a highly skilled workforce and a stable, welcoming business environment, Canada is the place to be.

Why do some Canadians invest outside of Canada? ›

By investing internationally, Canadians can enjoy the benefits of diversification across nations as well as asset classes, while enhancing returns and reducing the impact of any domestic market correction. This makes it a key strategy to consider when constructing an investment portfolio.

What are the disadvantages of foreign investment in Canada? ›

Disadvantages for FDI in Canada:
  • Strong exposure to the United States' economy, namely to exports to the US.
  • Sensitivity to international commodity prices and to the government revenues that depend on oil.
  • High household debt (186.2% of disposable income)
  • A drop in productivity in manufacturing industry.

What impact did foreign investment have on Canada? ›

Foreign direct investment (FDI) creates good jobs and opportunities for Canadians. It spurs economic growth, making our cities and towns thrive.

Which country invests the most in Canada? ›

United States

Which country is the biggest investor in Canada? ›

In comparison, Europe had a share of close to 20%, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and the Netherlands being the major recipients. Meanwhile, the United States held $581.0 billion of direct investment assets in Canada, up $29.7 billion from 2021, for a share of 46%.

Why does Canada trade so much with the US? ›

The Canada-U.S. partnership is forged by shared geography, similar values, common interests, deep personal connections and powerful, multi-layered economic ties.

Is it better to buy Canadian or American stocks? ›

The primary benefit of owning U.S. stocks is diversification. By buying U.S. stocks, you can reduce the risk of your portfolio underperforming if your Canadian stock picks do poorly for an extended period of time. The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and NASDAQ markets often take turns outperforming each other.

What makes Canada so different from other countries? ›

Canada is a multicultural nation. Multiculturalism is a definition of many different religious, customs, and cultural forces in their integration and coexistence, resulting in a unique Canadian cultural mosaic. With approximately 40% of the population of neither British nor French descent by the 1980s.

What are the weaknesses of Canada's economy? ›

Canada's economy enters 2023 shouldering serious structural weaknesses: the world's 4th most indebted advanced economy; the highest private sector debt-servicing burden among G7 countries; the worst prospects in the OECD for growth in GDP per capita and labour productivity over the next 40 years; business investment ...

What is the negative aspect of foreign investment? ›

Sometimes FDI can hinder domestic investment. Because of FDI, countries' local companies start losing interest to invest in their domestic products. Other countries' political movements can be changed constantly which could hamper the investors.

What is the downside of foreign investment? ›

Disadvantages of FDI

hinder domestic investments and transfer control of domestic firms to foreign ones. risk political changes, exposing countries to foreign political influence. influence exchange rates. Influence interest rates.

Why was Canada spared the worst effects of the financial crisis? ›

Scholars have chalked this up to a few things. First, its banks were inherently less risky because diversifica- tion helped them absorb shocks. Second, its banks could respond to depositors' demand for cash by printing their own currency backed by general assets.

What are Canada's top three competitive advantages? ›

Canada's Competitive Advantages
  • Canada has a strong relationship with the United States and provides easy access to and through the U.S. market. ...
  • Canada has an abundance of natural resources. ...
  • Canada has a diverse economic base. ...
  • Canada has a highly educated population.

How are foreign investments affecting the US economy? ›

According to research by the Department of Commerce, foreign investment supported some sixteen million U.S. jobs [PDF] in 2019, or 10.1 percent of the total labor force. On average, foreign firms pay higher salaries than their domestic competitors; they are also disproportionately involved in manufacturing.

Which is richest country Canada or USA? ›

For decades, the United States boasted the honor of having the richest middle-class. However, since 2019 Canada has the wealthiest middle class of any country in the world.

Which country invests most in USA? ›

The main investing countries in the U.S. are Japan, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. Most of these investments are in manufacturing, financial and insurance activities, and trade and maintenance. In 2021, California received the most investment, followed by Massachusetts and New York (BEA).

What is Canada's main source of income? ›

Its largest industries are real estate, mining, and manufacturing, and it is home to some of the largest mining companies in the world. A large portion of its GDP comes from international trade, with its largest trading partners being the U.S., China, and the U.K.

Who owns most of the wealth in Canada? ›

The top-25 wealthiest billionaires in Canada as of March 2, 2023, in USD:
  • David Thomson & family – $54.8 billion.
  • Jim Pattison – $11 billion.
  • David Cheriton – $9.2 billion.
  • Anthony Von Mandl – $8.7 billion.
  • Joseph Tsai – $7.8 billion.
  • Alain Bouchard – $6.1 billion.
  • Chip Wilson – $5.5 billion.
Mar 6, 2023

Who owns most of Canada? ›

The majority of all lands in Canada are held by governments as public land and are known as Crown lands. About 89% of Canada's land area (8,886,356 km2) is Crown land, which may either be federal (41%) or provincial (48%); the remaining 11% is privately owned.

Who is the biggest investor in us? ›

1. Warren Buffett. As one of the world's wealthiest investors, Warren Buffett almost needs no introduction. He's CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a $665 billion conglomerate that acts as the holding company for Buffett's investments, both its wholly-owned companies and its stocks.

Is it worth moving to USA from Canada? ›

Is it Worth Moving to the USA from Canada? Yes, absolutely! If you are looking for a better salary, more job opportunities, several tax benefits, affordable housing, and a vibrant lifestyle shifting to the USA from Canada is totally worth it.

How many Americans live in Canada? ›

There are over 1 million Americans living in Canada, and over 1 million Canadians living in the US, with many millions more who are descendants of Canadian immigrants to the US—New England alone is 20–25% of Canadian descent.

What is the US largest export to Canada? ›

In 2018, of the $298.7 billion in U.S. exports to Canada, the top commodity sectors were Machinery and Mechanical Appliances (23.8%), Transportation Equipment (21.0%), and Chemicals, Plastics, and Leather products (13.9%).

Are Canadian banks better than American? ›

Canada regulates its banks very strictly and doesn't let many players enter the market. As a result, Canadian banks tend to be safer than U.S. banks. In this article, I will explore two Canadian bank stocks that are relatively safe compared to their U.S. cousins.

Do US citizens pay taxes on Canadian stocks? ›

Capital gains taxes are very similar to those incurred when buying United States-domiciled stocks. The Canadian government imposes a 15% withholding tax on dividends paid to out-of-country investors, which can be claimed as a tax credit with the IRS and is waived when Canadian stocks are held in US retirement accounts.

What should Canadian investors do with their US dollars? ›

U.S. dollar denominated fund option

The most direct and efficient method to invest U.S. dollars is to invest in U.S. dollar denominated mutual funds. These are Canadian mutual funds denominated in U.S. dollars, that directly hold U.S. dollar denominated securities, enabling them to avoid currency impacts.

What makes us uniquely Canadian? ›

"What makes us Canadian is our love and respect for the lives of humans and wildlife. Our neverending compassion to make the entire world a better place to live, for humans and wildlife.

What are 5 things that define Canadian culture? ›

Canadians value equality, respect, safety, peace, nature - and we love our hockey!

What is the major economic problem in Canada? ›

Businesses in retail trade and tourism experienced declines in the number of active businesses in recent months. Business insolvencies rose sharply in 2022 as supply chain challenges, inflationary pressures and labour-related obstacles affected many businesses.

Is Canadian economy in trouble? ›

Canadian Economic Outlook. Economic growth has been more resilient than feared in the wake of aggressive interest rate increases last year. Canada's stalled toward the end of 2022 with a flat GDP growth reading in Q4 the first time the economy has failed to expand since a pandemic-related decline in Q2 2021.

Is Canada more economically stable than the US? ›

The economies of Canada and the United States are similar because both are developed countries. While both countries feature in the top ten economies in the world in 2022, the U.S. is the largest economy in the world, with US$24.8 trillion, with Canada ranking ninth at US$2.2 trillion.

Why is too much foreign investment bad? ›

The researchers found that annual increases in FDI enhance the depletion of energy, forest and mineral resources in developing countries. This finding suggests that FDI can promote unsustainable resource use.

What makes the United States the largest source country for FDI? ›

Proximity of consumers

Free-trade agreements with 20 other countries provide access to hundreds of millions of additional consumers. A strong and robust consumer market is a key reason the U.S. ranks top in the world for FDI.

Which country has historically attracted the most inward FDI in Latin America? ›

Brazil is the 11th largest recipient of FDI in the world in terms of inflows (6th the previous year), and the largest in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main investing countries in Brazil are the Netherlands, the United States, France, Spain, and Canada.

Is foreign investment good for the economy? ›

FDI can also promote competition in the domestic input market. Recipients of FDI often gain employee training in the course of operating the new businesses, which contributes to human capital development in the host country. Profits generated by FDI contribute to corporate tax revenues in the host country.

What are the two major concerns about foreign direct investment? ›

The two major concerns about foreign direct investment​ are: who receives the profits and taxes. who controls the assets and who receives the profits.

Why are so many Canadians in debt? ›

Aside from a dip in mortgage debt payments during the pandemic, when many Canadians were unemployed or took advantage of lender flexibility in waiving payments, the increased costs of borrowing have hit Canadians hard. The 2019 Statistics Canada showed Canadians made mortgage debt payments of $25.2 billion.

What banks are in trouble in 2023? ›

By the numbers: The three banks that failed this year — Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), First Republic Bank (FRB) and Signature Bank — accounted for 2.4% of all assets in the banking sector.

Will US bank collapse affect Canada? ›

While Canadian banks don't have much exposure to the failed banks, their acquisitions of U.S. regional banks could create short-term weakness. The Big Six could also feel the heat of a slowing macro environment, as central banks worldwide dry up liquidity to ease inflation.

Does Canada have better benefits than US? ›

While the USA offers better salary packages, Canada has better healthcare, more maternity leaves and other social benefits. Average work hours for Canada is slightly higher than that of the US. The annual leave structure of both countries is similar.

What country do most of Canada's exports go to? ›

The most recent exports are led by Crude Petroleum ($81.2B), Cars ($29B), Petroleum Gas ($15B), Gold ($14.3B), and Sawn Wood ($13.3B). The most common destination for the exports of Canada are United States ($355B), China ($22.5B), Japan ($11.9B), United Kingdom ($11.8B), and Mexico ($7.14B).

What is Canada's strongest industry? ›

Biggest Industries by Revenue in Canada in 2023
  • Commercial Banking in Canada. ...
  • Gasoline & Petroleum Bulk Stations in Canada. ...
  • Gasoline & Petroleum Wholesaling in Canada. ...
  • Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction in Canada. ...
  • New Car Dealers in Canada. ...
  • Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada. ...
  • Life Insurance & Annuities in Canada.

Which country attract the most foreign investment? ›

The United States is the top destination of inward foreign direct investment. Source: IMF Data, Coordinated Direct Investment Survey.

Who is the largest foreign investor in the US? ›

China Is Largest U.S. Investor Among BRICS in 2021

China ranked as the largest BRICS investor with $54 billion through 2021. Its investment dropped by one percent over the past five years. Russia's cumulative direct investment of some $4 billion in the United States shrank by 10 percent during the same period.

Which country has the most foreign direct investment? ›

FDI in Figures April 2023

Nevertheless, the United States and China were the top two FDI destinations worldwide in 2022, followed by Brazil, receiving peak level of inflows partly due to increased reinvestment of earnings.

Why is Canada so attractive for immigrants? ›

It has a very high reputation for its openness and acceptance of immigrants. A large proportion of the world's population recognizes Canada as a nation that respects freedoms and individual rights, welcomes immigrants, tolerates differing races and cultures, and offers a high quality of living.

What makes a country attractive to foreign investors? ›

Favourable tax rates will also promote investments as investors look for nations with lower corporate taxes. Moreover, a weak exchange rate is ideal for foreign investors because it is cheaper for investors and companies to buy assets.

Why is Canada the ideal market for your business? ›

Canada has a thriving economy with low tax rates, a highly skilled workforce, and access to the North American market. Additionally, the Canadian government provides incentives for foreign businesses to invest in the country, making it an attractive destination for business owners looking to expand their operations.

Why is Canada's most important trading partner the USA? ›

The Canada-U.S. partnership is forged by shared geography, similar values, common interests, deep personal connections and powerful, multi-layered economic ties.

Is Canada better than America for immigrants? ›

The USA has larger income packages, but Canada has superior healthcare, more maternity leaves, and other social benefits. In addition, although Canada's average workweek is a little longer than the US's, getting a Worker Visa Canada is much easier.

Which country is more beautiful Canada or USA? ›

Canada was named the second most beautiful country in the entire world, beating out several popular destinations like New Zealand, Iceland, and the United States to claim the #2 spot.

Is immigration easier in Canada than the US? ›

In general, Canada appears to have a much more liberal immigration policy than the United States. In 2019, with 11 percent of the United States' population, Canada receives 32 percent of the number of legal immigrants that of the United States receives.

Which country attracts the most investment? ›

The United States recorded the largest increase of inward foreign direct investment of all economies in 2021.

What are the disadvantages of investing in a foreign country? ›

Key Takeaways
  • Expenses on foreign transactions tend to be substantially higher.
  • Currency volatility is an additional layer of risk in making foreign transactions.
  • Liquidity can be a problem, especially when investing in emerging economies.

Is it easier to do business in Canada or USA? ›

For entrepreneurs looking to scale their business globally, Canada is an often overlooked but an easier option when trying to expand into the US. It provides stability to the entrepreneurs and their families while allowing them to focus on their startups without getting tied in the immigration loop.

What makes Canada's economy unique? ›

Canada is a wealthy nation because it has a strong and diversified economy. A large part of its economy depends on the mining of natural resources, such as gold, zinc, copper, and nickel, which are used extensively around the world. Canada is also a large player in the oil business with many large oil companies.

Why is Canada's economy so good? ›

Resilient household and business finances and strong population growth, supported by the government's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan and Immigration Levels Plan, underpinned this strong economic performance.

Who are Canada's two biggest trading partners? ›

Canada's Top 5 Trading Partners
  • United States—$337 billion (USD) (75.4% of total Canadian exports)
  • China—$18 billion (USD) (3.9% of total Canadian exports)
  • United Kingdom—US $15 billion (3.3% of total Canadian exports)
  • Japan—US$9 billion (2.1% of total Canadian exports)
Jan 29, 2021

What is Canada's biggest export? ›

The most recent exports are led by Crude Petroleum ($81.2B), Cars ($29B), Petroleum Gas ($15B), Gold ($14.3B), and Sawn Wood ($13.3B). The most common destination for the exports of Canada are United States ($355B), China ($22.5B), Japan ($11.9B), United Kingdom ($11.8B), and Mexico ($7.14B).

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