Chris Heakes
MFin, CFA, Director, ETF Portfolio Manager
Chris joined the BMO ETF portfolio management team in 2011, and focuses on factor-based equity and derivative-overlay portfolios, including but not limited to BMO’s Low Volatility, Dividend, and Covered Call equity ETF suites. His prior investment experience includes a role as a quantitative equity research associate, and work in investment funds product and client support. Chris holds a Masters of Finance from the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management (Dean’s List), where he studied investments, including derivatives and derivative pricing. Chris also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo with studies in History and Mathematics and the CFA designation.
Current Trade Ideas
Current Podcasts
As the economy shows more signs of weakness, will the Bank of Canada be the first to cut rates? In today’s episode, Portfolio Managers Chris McHaney, Chris Heakes, and your host, Mckenzie Box, examine the economic divergence between Canada and the U.S., and potential paths forward. They also discuss currency exposure, a large federal investment in artificial intelligence, and commodities. McKenzie Box is Vice President of Product Management and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Chris McHaney and Chris Heakes, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
What’s behind gold’s record-high rally? In today’s episode, Portfolio Managers Chris Heakes, Omanand Karmalkar, and your host, Mckenzie Box, identify a few forces supportive of bullion in the short and longer-term. They also discuss three ways to manage market volatility and U.S.-dollar-denominated ETFs. McKenzie Box is Vice President of Product Management and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Chris Heakes and Omanand Karmalkar, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
As expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged for the fifth consecutive time, while maintaining cuts are likely still to come. In today’s episode, Portfolio Managers Winnie Jiang, Chris Heakes, and your host, Erika Toth, break down the latest announcement. They also discuss the path to rate normalization, alternatives to HISA ETFs, and Energy. Erika Toth is a Director of ETF Distribution at BMO ETFs. She is joined on the podcast by Winnie Jiang and Chris Heakes, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
In this special episode, Sohrab Movahedi, Chris Heakes and Daniel Stanley discuss the first quarter earnings from Canada’s “Big Six,” breaking down the recent results and the macro trends impacting markets. They also examine rising loan-loss provisions and commercial real estate and look back on the U.S. regional banking crisis a year after it began.
Canada’s inflation rate fell within the Bank of Canada’s target range, easing to 2.9% in January. With potential rate cuts on the horizon, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Chris Heakes, and your host, Mckenzie Box, make a case for duration and discuss how to manage reinvestment risk. They also explore long-short equity strategies and share their top picks for sectors and factors. McKenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Chris McHaney and Chris Heakes, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.