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Three numbers can describe one investment
A holding has its quantity, a market price in the quote currency, and possibly a converted display value. When those inputs were recorded on different dates, totals may not match a brokerage statement exactly.
1. Verify the ticker and exchange
Check the security symbol, listing and currency in Portfolio. A CAD-listed and USD-listed security can have similar names but different prices. Correct a symbol mismatch before interpreting gains.
2. Check quote freshness
Some prices reflect the prior market close; some fund values update later. Check the price date when available. An old quote does not mean your brokerage has lost or gained that much money today.
3. See a conversion example
Imagine 10 shares priced at US$40, worth US$400. At an illustrative CAD-per-USD rate of 1.36, their displayed Canadian value is CA$544. At 1.38 with the share price unchanged, the displayed value becomes CA$552. That $8 display increase comes from currency translation, not a US-dollar investment gain.
4. Compare values on equivalent dates
Use a brokerage statement from the same date, check the rate used and compare the cash balances separately. Cashflow can use Bank of Canada daily exchange-rate data for relevant conversions, but daily rates are not necessarily today's executable broker exchange rate. The Bank of Canada publishes its indicative daily rates on business days, usually by 4:30 p.m. Eastern. See Bank of Canada daily rates.
5. Know what the displayed value cannot tell you
A CAD display conversion is not automatically adjusted cost base, realized capital gains or a tax-reporting exchange rate. Use appropriate records for taxes and confirm missing price, cost, and cash information before editing.
Continue with investment cash or portfolio history.
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