Trade Ideas
BMO’s Fixed Income ETF suite offers scalable, low cost and liquid solutions to access unique aspects of the Canadian bond market.
Turn volatility into cash flow with our top 6 picks yielding 6% or more, for investors seeking to reduce volatility relative to broad markets while enhancing the level of yield in their portfolios.
Gold tends to be a safe haven asset in times of economic uncertainty for its enduring value and lower correlation1 to traditional asset classes, offering a way to diversify portfolios. Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, expected rate cuts, and market volatility, gold has been on a record run in 2024. Here are five reasons we believe it will continue to shine.
Podcasts
Investors face the conundrum of a U.S. equity market that continues to move higher yet a U.S. dollar headed in the opposite direction, presenting a potential drag on total returns of U.S. assets. Bipan Rai, Managing Director of ETF and Alternatives Strategy for BMO Global Asset Management joins host Zayla Saunders to discuss strategies to shield portfolios from FX risk not just from a weaker U.S. dollar but global exposures. The episode was recorded live on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Central bank policy decisions amid mixed economic data loom large over North American credit markets this fall. Vishang Chawla, portfolio manager, active fixed income, joins Bipan to discuss key differences between Canadian and U.S. investment-grade and high yield bond market dynamics, and how slowing growth and inflation risks are affecting each. This podcast was recorded live on September 9, 2025.
Will it be another record-breaking year for Canadian ETF inflows? In this episode, Bipan Rai, Matt Montemurro, and your host, Erika Toth, delve into the latest industry data, exploring the seasonality of flows, currency hedging, fixed income positioning, a slight sector rotation, and a whole lot more. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory for Eastern Canada at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds, BMO GAM and Matt Montemurro, Managing Director and Head of Fixed Income and Equity Index ETFs, Exchange Traded Funds, BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Last quarter, our mantra was “the best offence is a good defence.” Does it still make sense in today’s environment? In this episode, special guest Sohrab Movahedi, ETF and Alternatives Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Skye Collyer, provide a third-quarter update on the Big Six, discussing recent earnings results, key themes to watch, and their outlook for the months ahead. Skye Collyer is a Director of ETF Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds, at BMO Global Asset Management, and Sohrab Movahedi, Managing Director of Financials Research at BMO Capital Markets. This episode was recorded on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The early autumn has been accompanied in recent years by broad market weakness and heightened volatility, and this September appears to be no exception. Bipan looks at what’s driving the phenomenon, as well as other macro factors currently impacting financial markets. This episode was recorded live on September 2, 2025.
Exchange-traded funds were once thought to be a passing fad in investing; now, 35 years later, the ETF industry is booming. In this special episode, Vice Chair of BMO ETFs Alain Desbiens, and your host, Erika Toth, take a look back at where it all began, the evolution of this Canadian invention — and what’s next. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory for Eastern Canada at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Alain Desbiens, Vice Chair at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. The episode was recorded live on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
Do we really know AI? In this episode, Portfolio Manager Malcolm White, ETF and Alternatives Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Zayla Saunders, take a deep dive into artificial intelligence and the unknown limits to its potential. They also explore key trends, tech earnings, and the knowledge revolution. Zayla Saunders is a Senior Associate of Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Malcolm White, Portfolio Manager (Technology, Media and Communications), Global Equity, at BMO GAM, and Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
Monetizing volatility through structured rate instruments has become a trusted income strategy, including for the BMO Strategic Fixed Income Yield Fund, sometimes called BMO’s “structured rates fund.” Portfolio manager Olivia Pei joins Bipan to discuss how the vehicle is constructed, the way it differs from comparable strategies such as covered calls and its use case as a diversified income generator for cash-focused portfolios. This podcast was recorded live on August 12, 2025.
What’s next for U.S.-Canada trade? In this episode, ETF and Alternatives Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, break down the current and potential implications of reciprocal tariffs and explore key data points to watch. They also share their outlook for the months ahead and portfolio positioning for U.S. and Canadian assets. Erika Toth is Director, Institutional & Advisory, Eastern Canada at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The latest U.S. jobs report has sent tremors through financial markets, altering odds of when — and how quickly — the U.S. Federal Reserve will commence its cutting cycle. Ali Jaffery of CIBC Economics joins Bipan to break down the recent string data flow from south of the border, and what it means for investors. Ali also provides advice on fantasy football for the upcoming season. This podcast was recorded live on August 5, 2025.
Collateralized Loan Obligations are shaking up the Canadian investing landscape. Bipan is joined by BMO Global Asset Management’s private credit head, Mark Jarosz, to explore how these investments are structured and can be used to add diversified yield potential. This podcast was recorded live on July 29, 2025.
In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erin Allen, unpack the growing tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell, touching on how political pressures could reshape monetary policy expectations and sector performance — and what it all means for investors. Erin Allen is a Director of Direct Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Job market data and other official figures suggest the Canadian economy is on surprisingly steady ground, yet other indicators are decidedly bearish. Royce Mendes of Desjardins Capital Markets joins Bipan to discuss what the it all means for upcoming interest rate decisions from the Bank of Canada while factoring in a fraught U.S.-Canada trade relations backdrop. This podcast was recorded live on July 22, 2025.
What are the side effects of higher pricing pressures and capital costs? In this special episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Michelle Allen, break down the potential implications for investors and why alternatives matter in the current environment. They also provide a third quarter update on portfolio positioning. Michelle Allen is a Senior Associate, Online Distribution, BMO ETFs at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds, at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
What are the advantages of investing in gold? In this special episode, Portfolio Managers Jonathan Lau and Olivie Li, and your host, Erika Toth, explore this safe-haven asset. They also introduce a new way to get exposure to the price of gold bullion while generating monthly cash flow. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Jonathan Lau and Olivia Li, Portfolio Managers at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
In this episode, your host, Erika Toth, sits down with special guest Brian Belski, to get his sought-after market outlook for the months ahead and introduce five brand new Belski ETFs, which leverage his unique insights and views. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional & Advisory, Eastern Canada, at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Brian Belski, Chief Investment Strategist and leader of the Investment Strategy Group, BMO Capital Markets. The episode was recorded live on Monday, June 9, 2025.
A new floor price for world oil prices as well as rising forecasts for gold are two among many implications traders are weighing as tensions simmer between Iran, Israel as well as the United States. Bipan is joined by TD Securities strategist Daniel Ghali to discuss what impact the conflict has had on commodity and energy price expectations. This podcast was recorded live on June 24, 2025.
In today’s episode, special guest Jeremy Fehr, and your host, Erika Toth, dive into the history of SIA Wealth and explore its innovative approach to tactical investing through relative strength technology. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Jeremy Fehr, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, SIA Wealth Management & SIACharts. The episode was recorded live on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Bipan Rai, BMO ETFs managing director and strategist, ETFs and alternatives, is joined by Alex Singh, alternatives partnerships lead for BMO Global Asset Management to discuss the benefits of hedge funds in an overall portfolio, as well as talk about the new partnership between BMO GAM and Goldman Sachs Asset Management to launch a multi-strategy fund for Canadian investors. Note: the investment product mentioned in this podcast is only available to BMO Nesbitt Burns advisors to date. This podcast was recorded live on May 1, 2025.
Trump’s trade wars are creating ripple effects that are being felt far and wide. In today’s episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Zayla Saunders, discuss which sectors are bracing for impact or flying under the radar. They also provide defensive strategies for the months ahead. Zayla Saunders is a Senior Associate of Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
A post-election special from BMO ETFs and alternatives strategist Bipan Rai and guest Ali Jaffery, executive director and senior economist at CIBC. Housing, infrastructure and defence spending are top priorities for the newly elected Liberal government. However, the pair discuss how rising trade and recession risks could upend that agenda and force new stimulus measures instead. This podcast was recorded live on April 29, 2025.
A volatile U.S. dollar amid broader trade uncertainty has many Canadian investors questioning whether to add or pare back their F-X hedges to the greenback. Bipan Rai, managing director of ETF and structure solutions strategy at BMO ETFs, provides a brief history of the dollar’s evolution as the global reserve currency, and his view on where the greenback goes from here. This episode was recorded live on April 22, 2025.
In this special episode, Portfolio Managers Jonathan Lau and Olivia Li, and your host, Skye Collyer, take a deep dive into covered call ETFs — discussing how they work and strategies to utilize them for portfolio positioning in today’s marketplace. Skye Collyer is a Director of ETF Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Jonathan Lau and Olivia Li, Portfolio Managers at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. The episode was recorded live on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Gold prices have skyrocketed as investors both big and small have poured into the precious metal seeking its relative stability amid ongoing trade uncertainty and market risks. Daniel Ghali, director, commodities strategy at TD Securities joins Bipan Rai, director of ETF strategy for BMO ETFs to discuss who’s behind gold’s big moves and where prices could go as the year progresses. This episode was recorded live on April 8, 2025.
Looking to invest overseas with ease? In this deep-dive episode, special guests Johan Ahlberg, and Acushla Vestby, from BMO Global Asset Management’s Structured Solutions team, and your host, Erin Allen, explore the fundamentals of Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs) and how they give investors greater access to foreign markets. Erin Allen is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. She is joined on the podcast by Johan Ahlberg, Director of Development and Strategy Advisory, Structured Solutions, at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Acushla Vestby, Managing Director and Head of Structured Solutions and National Accounts, at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
As a shifting economic backdrop fans recession fears in the U.S., is a soft landing still on the table? In this episode, ETF Strategist Bipan Rai, and your host, Erika Toth, analyze the market outlook. They also discuss our third quarter investment strategy reports and portfolio construction across asset classes. Erika Toth is a Director of Institutional and Advisory for Eastern Canada at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.