Look Out Below Canada!

Commodities are getting trounced thanks to weaker than expected Chinese growth. It’s going to be a tough start to the week for Canadian investors.

| More on:
The Motley Fool

Canadian investors are set to face a painful day as China announced that GDP rose at a clip of just 7.7% in the first quarter.  According to Bloomberg, expectations were set for 8% growth.  This news has most global markets trading lower but can be expected to be especially harsh on Canada’s resource heavy index.

No commodity appears left unscathed by the Chinese data.  Currently, gold is off by 6.1%, silver is down 10%, and industrial metals like copper have declined by 3%.  WTI Crude Oil is also down by about 3%, trading at a price of $88.88.

Expect Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX,NYSE:ABX), Goldcorp (TSX:G,NYSE:GG), Teck Resources (TSX:TCK.B,NYSE:TCK), Suncor Energy (TSX:SU,NYSE:SU), and Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ,NYSE:CNQ) to be the names that drive our market lower on this otherwise fine spring’ish Monday.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index is loaded with resource and financial stocks.  Because of this, investors that rely on Canadian Index funds or ETFs severely lack diversification in their portfolio, opening them to undue risks.  We have created a special report that outlines an easy to implement strategy and 5 Canadian stocks that reduce the risks involved with passively investing in the Canadian market.  Click here now to receive “Buy These 5 Companies Instead of Following a Flawed Piece of Advice” – FREE!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest in Foolish investing.

Fool contributor Iain Butler is short $32 July 2013 put options on Goldcorp, short $26 August put options on Teck and owns shares outright in Barrick Gold and Teck.  The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

More on Investing

CI Financial goes private
Bank Stocks

CI Financial Wants to Go Private: What Investors Need to Know

Will the deal actually go through, or might it face government scrutiny?

Read more »

Canadian dollars are printed
Dividend Stocks

Transform Your TFSA Into a Cash-Generating Machine With Just $28,000

Canadians can turn their TFSAs into a cash-generating machine with money equivalent to four years’ contribution limits.

Read more »

Investor wonders if it's safe to buy stocks now
Tech Stocks

Balancing the Risks and Rewards of Investing in AI Stocks

Choosing a safe AI stock can be challenging if you need help understanding the underlying technology, business model, and, by…

Read more »

A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions with a 100 dollar banknote and dollar coins.
Retirement

Want the Maximum $1,346.60 CPP? Here’s the Income You Need

Most CPP users receive the average pension but have ways to boost their retirement income.

Read more »

open vault at bank
Bank Stocks

RBC vs. TD: Which Canadian Bank Stock Is the Better Buy?

Let's dive into whether Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD) or Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY) are the best picks in the banking…

Read more »

stock research, analyze data
Stocks for Beginners

Prediction: 2 Top Stock Picks to Beat the Market For Years to Come

Are you wondering what Canadian stocks could deliver predictable long-term returns? These two stocks are worth a bet for the…

Read more »

Silver coins fall into a piggy bank.
Dividend Stocks

Here’s the Average RRSP Balance at 45 in Canada

The RRSP is a strong tool for investors, but only if you invest in top stocks like this ETF for…

Read more »

Start line on the highway
Dividend Stocks

Retirement Planning: Dividends vs. Growth (Or How About Both?)

Building a healthy mix of income and growth potential in your retirement portfolio is essential. Even if you can't access…

Read more »