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How Vulnerable Is Short-Duration Fixed Income to Fed Tightening?
In recent research released by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and echoed in statements by several Fed regional bank presidents, Fed officials have voiced concerns that the market is underestimating the probability and timing of a change in monetary policy.
Microcap as an Alternative to Private Equity
Private equity has become a central component of many institutional and high-net-worth investment portfolios over the past decade. While private equity offers potential advantages, it also requires taking distinct risks. This paper highlights an alternative to private equitymicrocap equitieswhich mitigates several of these particular risks.
Slower Growth in China and Japan Pressures the Region
Our forecast for the global economy is below consensus mainly because of our views for regions outside of the U.S., including Asia, the emerging markets and Europe, although higher growth in the U.S. should offset some of the slowdown we see coming from China. Japan made a kick start under so-called Abenomics with massive monetary and fiscal reflation policies, but the recent data suggest to us that the effectiveness of those cyclical policies are already challenged by secular and structural headwinds.
5 Reasons Why Short-Term Municipal Bonds Make Sense Now
Although short-term bonds might not be as sexy as common stocks in fashionable brands like Apple and Tesla, they play an important role in any serious investor's portfolio. Below are five reasons why investing in municipal bonds makes sense now more than ever.
When it Comes to Interest Rates, Who Says What Comes Down Must Go Up?
by Zachary Karabell of Envestnet,
We are, at long last, nearing the end of one of the great central banking experiments: the U.S. Federal Reserves policy of quantitative easing, which began in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008-2009. While the unwinding of the monthly purchases of billions of dollars of mortgage-backed securities and other bonds has been going on for many months, markets are now increasingly attuned to what comes next. And the primary question is quite simple: will interest rates rise and if so, by how much and when?
Reading Fed Tea Leaves
Monetary policy is of keen interest to fixed income investors, and the US Federal Reserve (Fed) has been known to be particularly obtuse when it comes to interest-rate talk. One thing is clear: The Fed is winding down its longstanding quantitative easing (QE) program. Whats not so clear: when the Fed will actually raise short-term interest rates.
Gold and US Monetary Policy
by Ade Odunsi of AdvisorShares,
In this weeks Gold Report we conduct a historical analysis of the impact of US monetary policy announcements on the price of gold in US dollars. Beginning with the Federal Reserves extra-ordinary 75 basis point Fed Funds rate cut in January 2008 and the most significant central bank policy announcements since, the analysis looks at the resulting reaction of the gold market and the US 10 year real yield over a three month period.
Playing Defense in Emerging Market Fixed Income
by Bradley Krom of WisdomTree, Inc.,
When looking around the global fixed income landscape, investors searching for income potential have essentially two choices: non-investment grade debt or emerging markets (EM). While high yield flows continues to dominate the headlines, emerging markets have generally flown under the radar in recent months. In this discussion, we focus on how investors may be able to best position against a change in Federal Reserve (Fed) policy while maintaining income potential from investments in emerging markets.
Equities: Finding the Path to Value?
Going forward, earnings growth and stock selection - more than multiple expansion and beta - will likely play a bigger role in driving positive returns. Our research has uncovered numerous examples of stocks trading below our estimate of intrinsic value - notably in Europe and various special situations. Investors with the capacity for deep, fundamental research and a long-term unconstrained equity strategy may be positioned to capitalize on these opportunities.
Weekly Market Update
by Team of Castleton Partners,
In a week defined by increased rate volatility, Treasury yields ended mixed, as the yield curve continued to flatten. Registering its first monthly decline in over a year, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) continued to support a benign inflationary environment, further supporting long-dated instruments. With global inflation subdued, central banks around the world remain more concerned about lapsing back into recession than about frothy risk markets and potential bubbles.
A Lack of Surprises Helps Equity Markets Make Gains
Equity markets rose again last week, with the S&P 500 Index climbing 1.3% and reaching another record high. Bond yields and the U.S. dollar drifted higher, while emerging market equities and commodities struggled. Two major events that resulted in a continuation of the status quo helped market sentiment.
It Will Take More Than ECB Rate Cuts for the Eurozone to Fully Recover
by John Greenwood of Invesco Blog,
The European Central Banks (ECB) surprise rate cuts on Sept. 4 reducing its main lending and deposit rates by 10 basis points show that its policies so far have been inadequate to solve the euro-areas economic malaise. Economic growth has stalled, and deflation remains a threat in the eurozone. The rate cuts may help to weaken the euro further in the currency markets, but nobody should be under any illusion that banks will start lending or expanding their deposits as a result of the rate cuts alone, or that these cuts will trigger a wider economic recovery.
The Ponzi Economy
by John Hussman of Hussman Funds,
When the most persistent, most aggressive, and most sizeable actions of policymakers are those that discourage saving, promote debt-financed consumption, and encourage the diversion of scarce savings to yield-seeking speculation rather than productive investment, the backbone that supports a rising standard of living is broken.
A Revolutionary Idea: Investing in Europe (even Russia)
The eurozone appeared to have emerged from a prolonged recession when conflict in Ukraine intensified earlier this year with Russias annexation of Crimea. The continued complexity of the crisis in Ukraine now threatens to derail Europes fragile economy, and European stocks have suffered. That said, more attractive valuations in Europe may lure investors back to European stocks, according to Tucker Scott, portfolio manager and executive vice president, Templeton Global Equity Group. He sees opportunity through the fog of crisis and makes a case for finding value in Europe&m
“You’re Going to Need a Bigger Boat”: Alpha and Interest Rates
Caution has been the dominant sentiment among investors in recent times even as equities have continued to march along. But as the prospect of rising US interest rates becomes ever more real, Brooks Ritchey, senior managing director at K2 Advisors, Franklin Templeton Solutions, takes a look at how some individuals and institutions are changing their guarded approach. He says alternative investments could find increased interest among savvy investors as interest rates start to tick higher.
What the Scottish Referendum & Fed News Could Mean for Investors
by Russ Koesterich of BlackRock,
Last weeks stock losses were partly a reflection of investors looking ahead to the Scottish independence vote this Thursday and the Federal Reserve (Fed)s statement on Wednesday. Russ weighs in on the investing implications of these two big news events.
Gundlach on Today's Surprising Driver of Bond Prices
by Robert Huebscher,
Inflationary pressures could ultimately trigger an uncontrollable spike in interest rates, according to Jeffrey Gundlach, but such predictions are likely at least five years too early. In the short run, he identified the key driver that will keep rates low - the strong performance of European bond markets.
The Key Problem with Monte Carlo Software - The Need for Better Performance Metrics
by Joe Tomlinson,
Popular financial-planning software packages have shortcomings in the metrics they use to evaluate the outputs from Monte Carlo simulations; other metrics provide more useful information. I will address how to measure the performance of financial plans when variable investment returns and longevity are introduced and demonstrate that the most-commonly used measures have weaknesses.
Weekly Market Update
by Team of Castleton Partners,
After a strong summer rally, the first two weeks of September have not been kind to US financial markets, with both stock and bond markets generating negative returns. In the month to date, ten year Treasury yields have risen twenty five basis points to 2.60%, the highest such level since the first week of July.
Stocks vs. High Yield Munis
The track record of the so-called "Fed Model" is dubious at best. The relationship compares the S&P 500's earnings yield to the yield of the 10-year Treasury note, and there are many other indicators that have a better track record than does the Fed Model when attempting to predict twelve-month forward returns. Despite that caveat, we nonetheless thought it interesting to examine the yield relationships between stocks and a broader array of fixed-income categories. Among those categories, high yield municipal bonds can be the only fixed-income that is attractive relative to stock
High Yield in a Rising Rate Environment: A Perspective on Historical Performance
by Heather Rupp of AdvisorShares,
Since 1980, Treasury yields have increased (i.e., interest rates rose), in 15 of those years. In every one of those years, high yield has outperformed the investment grade market. The long-term numbers show that over those 15 years since 1980 where we saw Treasury yield increases (i.e., interest rates rose), high yield had an average return of 13.7% (or 10.4% if you exclude the massive performance in 2009). This compares to only a 4.5% average return (or 3.6% excluding 2009) for investment grade bonds over the same period.
The Economy: September Viewpoint
The U.S. economy experienced a robust summer for economic expansion and job growth, however recent consumer data is casting doubt as to whether the current level of activity can be sustained. Our position is to maintain an emphasis on higher-quality bonds and be prepared for short-term rate increase(s) in the months to come. The road ahead for stocks continues to look positive, but it would be prudent to keep in mind the inevitable speed bumps that will likely present themselves down the road, as we have not had a meaningful pullback since 2011.
The U.S. Is Diverging From Other Developed Markets
U.S. equities fell amid a relatively quiet week, with the S&P 500 Index dropping 1.1%. The upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting drew quite a bit of attention amid increased speculation that the Federal Reserve may start signaling its long-awaited move to increase rates.
Emphasize Barriers to Entry?
by Mark Kiesel of PIMCO,
We see many bottom-up investment opportunities in the global credit markets, particularly in industries with high barriers to entry. We view healthcare, lodging, Asian gaming, master limited partnerships/pipelines, energy, wireless telecom, cell towers, cable, satellite, media and U.S. banks as attractive industries. Companies unique patents, licenses, brands, content and intellectual property, among other advantages, can help support investment returns in both bull and bear markets.
Understanding the Potential Risks and Rewards of Alternative Investments
Today, Investors are confronted with constructing or restructuring an asset allocation model in an environment where traditional equity and fixed income securities are fully valued. As a result, investors may be facing a period of nominal or negative returns from both of these traditional asset classes. In this environment, alternative investments may play a pivotal role in providing investors with broad diversification, lower correlations, and as a result, enhanced downside protection.
Whats on Your Radar Screen?
by John Mauldin of Mauldin Economics,
So lets look at whats on my radar screen today. First up (but probably not the most important in the long term), I would have to say, is Scotland. What has not been widely discussed is that the voting age was changed in Scotland just a few years ago. For this election, anyone in Scotland over 16 years old is eligible. Think about that for a second. Have you ever asked 16-year-olds whether they would like to be more free and independent and gotten a no answer? They dont think with their economic brains, or at least most of them dont.
Will the Russia-Ukraine Crisis Chill Europe’s Recovery?
As the crisis in Ukraine and resulting geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West continues with no durable solution yet, many investors have responded by exiting European companies with exposure to the Russian economy. But even as evidence mounts that the Ukraine crisis is taking a toll on many European economies, it would be imprudent for long-term investors to give up on investing in Europe. Strong corporate earnings momentum, high dividend yields and the possibility of additional support from the European Central Bank (ECB) are just some of the reasons why he remains confident that,
Patiently Waiting for Mean Reversion
Because small caps tend to have higher beta than blue chips, you would expect them to outperform in a generally rising market?which we?re currently in. So it appears that a major rotation out of these riskier, more volatile stocks has inexplicably occurred, leading to the wide bifurcation between small and large companies. The good news is that, based on 20 years of historical data, stocks in the Russell 2000 tend to rally in the fourth quarter and continue steadily until around the end of the first quarter. Over this 20-year period ending in December 2013, the Russell has generat
ECB Measures Highlight Draghis Determination
The reduction in eurozone interest rates announced on September 4 by European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi came as a bit of a surprise to some market players. But David Zahn, Head of European Fixed Income and portfolio manager, believes that this move, along with the confirmation of the commencement of the banks asset-backed securities purchase program, is very much in line with its previous action and suggests a central bank president who is in control and determined to get the eurozones economy back on track.
High Yield Bonds and Interest Rates
by Heather Rupp of AdvisorShares,
Over the last month, we have seen the equity markets hit all-time highs, all the while bond investors seem to be indicating there are reasons to be concerned, sending the 10-year Treasury to the lowest yields seen over the past year.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Investors could soon face an environment of rising U.S. interest rates and heightened rate volatility. Already, the Federal Reserve has begun setting the stage by tapering its quantitative easing program. Once rates start to rise, its difficult for a fixed income portfolio to make up lost ground if its not already positioned for higher rates. We think its crucial for investors to diversify their yield curve exposure by investing abroad.
Growing Income and Wealth with High-Dividend Equities
High-dividend equities have significant advantages for growing income and wealth: getting sufficient yield, keeping up with inflation and outliving available funds. Such a portfolio produces higher income per dollar invested, growing income and principal over time, higher total returns, lower volatility and a reduced risk of outliving savings.
Market Perspective
In our office we frequently make sport of the countless headlines we encounter on a daily basis from various media outlets across the web. These headlines are often splashed across the home pages of market or financial sitesthough often across mainstream news outlets, or the business sections of Sunday newspapers as well.
Are Municipals Allergic to Basel?
One of the bogeys of the Basel Accords calls for dramatic improvements in bank liquidity. The most recent changes to the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) test changed the numerator in the equation to ease the strictness of qualifying assets. The formula divides a banking institutions stock of high quality liquid assets (HQLA)the numeratorby estimated total net cash outflow over a 30-day period in a stressed environment. The calculation must be at least equal to or greater than 100 percent at all times.
Results 9,951–10,000
of 11,878 found.
