After downsizing, couple seek no-fuss investment options + MORE Nov 9th

TORONTO – Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC) has become the latest big-name investor to buy into a $1-billion bond deal for struggling smartphone maker BlackBerry (TSX:BB).
The addition of the insurance company was disclosed in an amended filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (TSX:FFH), which is leading the debt financing.
Manulife is investing $70 million under the deal.
Markel Corp. and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (TSX:BAM.A) both pared back their planned investment in the bond offering to make room for Manulife.
Other investors include Mackenzie Financial Corp., Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. and Qatar Holding LLC.
Fairfax announced the financing Monday after it scrapped a proposed plan to purchase BlackBerry outright.
Fairfax president and CEO Prem Watsa explained his change of heart in an interview with The Associated Press, saying he had worked with a consulting company that recommended against taking BlackBerry private with borrowed money…

BEIJING, China – Reform advocates are looking to China’s leaders to launch a new era of change by giving entrepreneurs a bigger role in the state-dominated economy and farmers more control over land at a policymaking conference that opened Saturday.
The Communist Party has yet to give details of the four-day meeting’s agenda. But the official Xinhua News Agency, which reported the closed-door gathering had begun, said it would consider “major issues concerning comprehensively deepening reforms.”
Chinese leaders are under pressure to overhaul a model based on trade and investment that has run out of steam after delivering three decades of rapid growth. Advisers including the World Bank say they need to give entrepreneurs who create China’s new jobs and wealth a bigger role in an economy controlled by inefficient state companies.
“The medium-term outlook for the economy depends on whether or not the government can step out of the way,” said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist for Capital Economics…

DETROIT – Investors in the Tesla electric car company stemmed the bleeding a bit Friday. But it was still an abysmal few days, marred by another fire in a Model S and earnings results that many found disappointing.
Tesla’s shares dropped a total of $37 on Wednesday and Thursday and were down another $7 by noon Friday before recovering to finish with a loss of $1.82. Twenty-two million shares traded Friday, almost double the average daily volume.
In three days, Tesla shareholders lost $4.7 billion, or nearly 22 per cent of their investment. Billionaire CEO Elon Musk, who held about 28 million shares as of May 30, or a nearly a quarter of the stock, lost more than $1 billion as Tesla stock plunged from $176.81 at the close Tuesday to $137.95 on Friday.
Tesla could face more challenges next week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. government’s auto safety watchdog, said Friday it is in close contact with Tennessee officials, gathering information before deciding if a full investigation is needed…

TORONTO – The Prime Minister defended his government’s prerogative to restrict which foreign state-owned…

As retirement goals firm up, Rani and Evan want to know how to get an adequate return on their investments – with minimal risk