Our dollar has strengthened considerably over the past two years, hitting 0.85USD recently. Even though the C$ might strengthen further (Scotiabank recently forecast the dollar rising to as much as 0.925USD in 2005), I am considering increasing my foreign investments in the new year, mainly using the iUnits and iShares index funds. I am also considering initiating new positions in US Small Cap Equities and Emerging Market equities.

Choices include:

  1. US LargeCap: iUnits S&P 500 RSP Index (TSX: XSP), iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (DVY)
  2. US MidCap: iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index (IJH), iShares Russell MidCap Index (IWR)
  3. US SmallCap: iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index (IJR), iShares Russel 2000 Index (IWM)
  4. EAFE: iUnits MSCI EAFE RSP Index (TSX: XIN)
  5. Emerging Markets: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (EEM)