Welcome to this edition of the Globe and Mail Personal Finance Reader. I'm Rob Carrick, personal finance columnist at The Globe, and each week I compile a list of articles, blog postings and websites that represent the best of what the online world has to offer on money-related subjects.
The Canadian housing market's recessionary slump earlier this year lasted, what, an hour or two at most? OK, that's an exaggeration. But any declines in prices and sales levels are quickly being made up, and some markets are as hot as ever. In the Reader this week, we look at what's happening in the U.S. and UK housing for some global context on housing trends. There's also some guidance for people tackling the question everyone arranging a mortgage must consider - variable or fixed rate?
This week's investing roundup looks at the benefits of putting your money in the Canadian market, and at the question of whether the Dow Jones industrial average is looking vulnerable after a 50-per-cent surge from its March low. Plus, there's guidance for people seeking the best rates on their savings, and a list of resources for parents who want to make their kids smarter about money.
Found something on the Internet that your fellow investors might enjoy? Talk to me at rcarrick@globeandmail.com
The latest from The Globe and Mail and Globe Investor
Tax Matters Tim Cestnick explains how an insurance trust will help save on taxes and fees
Adviser Complaints Rob Carrick shows us one way to launch a complaint against your adviser
Home Cents Chaya Cooperberg talks about how labels will help prevent clothing and supply mix-ups at school
Let's Talk Investing In this video, get tips on how to invest your savings and put money aside for buying a house
Must Reads From Around the Web
Homes Cooking The Canadian housing market looks to be in great shape - for sellers - but let's not get complacent. As this post on the New York Times' Economix blog shows, house prices can fall hard and stay down for a while.
Here's another sobering report on housing, this time on the UK market.
In case you missed it, here's our story on the strong numbers out of the Canadian resale housing market last month.
Here's an American take on how our stock market and housing market look in relation to what's going on in the United States.
Variable rate or fixed rate? Here's a column I wrote this week on the latest thinking about how people arranging a mortgage should answer this question.
If you're leaning toward a variable-rate mortgage, be sure to read this post on the Canadian Real Estate Trends blog about a report from Laurentian Bank predicting aggressive interest rate hikes next year.
Investing Roundup Can you remember a time when there was good money to be made by putting a large part of your portfolio in global stocks? Me neither. Here's the Greenlight Advisor blog on why it looks as if Canada will continue to be a good place for Canadians to invest.
The widely followed Dow Jones Industrial average has surged about 50 per cent from its March low and is within site of the 10,000 mark for the first time in almost a year. Has the index risen too far, too fast? Yes, argues this article by the editor of the Marketwatch.com website.
A year after the stock markets blew a gasket, the Clusterstock blog lists 10 new bubbles in the making.
Take an Interest Interest rates are painfully low right now for savers, which means it's more important an ever to keep on top of the best deals in savings accounts. Here's a review of the top deals in these accounts from the Canadian Capitalist blog.
Common Cents Parenting The Canadian Foundation for the Advancement of Investors Rights has produced this list of online resources for young people to improve their literacy. If you can figure out how to get your teenagers to use these resources, let me know.
Attention, parents of children with toys that consume an endless supply of batteries. Here, we have a meditation on whether it makes sense to buy rechargeable batteries.
Rob Carrick