Paulo

Canadian Banks May Be Risk-Averse, But They're Not Immune

The worse case scenario (at the moment) is the possibility of a significant decline in the high dividends (but there are those who argue that this is already priced in).

Canadian Dividends Faring Better Than Most, But Investors Are Still Worried

Good point. Got 20K in the preferreds.

Canadian Dividends Faring Better Than Most, But Investors Are Still Worried

The government does not own any banks in Canada. It just regulates the hell out of them.
No banks have been nationalized in Canada as is the case in the U.K. and the U.S.
This is not even remotely (thus far) on the public agenda (and I think the same is true for Australia).

Canadian Dividends Faring Better Than Most, But Investors Are Still Worried

Canadian and Australian banks are right at the top of the global heap at this moment in time in terms of their financial health. Both provide strong dividends.
For American investors, there is the added attraction of the significant current weaknesses of both currencies against the American dollar. They might double their money in a few years while collecting dividends.

Canadian Banks Continue to Take a Beating

Royal Bank of Scotland is RBS on NYSE

Look Around - The Credit Crunch Has Arrived

So keep your hedges on, eh!!