Seeking Alpha’s Jonathan Liss recently spoke with Gary to find out how he planned to position clients in 2012 in light of his understanding of how a range of macro-economic and geopolitical trends were likely to unfold in the coming year. Seeking Alpha (SA): How would you generally describe your investing style/philosophy? Gary Gordon (GG): Successful [...] Continue Reading...
Even an ardent trend-follower who diligently tracks the price of the S&P 500 must be frustrated. Granted, had he/she sold when the heralded benchmark fell below its 200-day moving average in August, he may have protected principal… temporarily. However, the strategy would have left one buying-n-selling for losses in October, November and December. Yikes! Fundamental valuation wonks have [...] Continue Reading...
The investing story for most of the 21st century has been the prominence of emerging market stocks. In a world where industrializing countries have been growing at 3x the pace of developed world counterparts, and where emerging country debt remained remarkably tame, investors began ramping up their overseas holdings. It worked remarkably well; that is, it worked until the 2008 U.S. mortgage collapse and [...] Continue Reading...
Economically sensitive sectors like energy failed to generate investor enthusiasm in 2011. Fears of a mammoth depression in Europe as well as a slowdown in China hampered share prices of mainstays from Anadarko Petroleum (APC) to Southwestern Energy (SWN). Looking forward, however, there may be reasons to cheer. China has shifted from restrictive fiscal and monetary policies to more [...] Continue Reading...
Throughout the last 10 years, world currencies gained remarkable ground on the U.S. dollar. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago when the cover of The Economist featured George Washington with his wig on fire; the former president is piloting a “greenback in flames” as it nose-dives towards Earth. However, the U.S. dollar served as a one-of-a-kind [...] Continue Reading...
The prospects for corporate earnings haven’t mattered much to the markets in 2011. Instead, European debt news drives stocks dramatically higher or lower. Last week, stock assets tanked on less-than-anticipated demand for Italian bonds. This week, stocks skyrocket on better-than-expected desire for Spanish bonds. Traders used to profit from this kind of volatility. They haven’t been doing [...] Continue Reading...
The Commerce Department annonced that new home construction has hit its highest level since April of 2010, “climbing” 9.3% to a seasonally adjusted 685,000 units. Similarly, the National Association of Homebuilders has offered up its own cheerful trend; its Homebuilder Confidence Index has risen for 3 consecutive months. On the other hand, many economists have said that a ”healthy” real [...] Continue Reading...
Momentum ETFs, Commodity ETFs/ETNs, Asian ETFs, Yield-Oriented ETFs, Consumer ETFs Click here to listen to the show: 12-18-2011 Continue Reading...
Jim Rogers may be the quintessential investment guru, but he isn’t immune to questionable calls. Throughout 2011, Mr. Rogers has been particularly bullish on agricultural-based assets. Yet Market Vectors Agribusiness (MOO) and PowerShares DB Agriculture (DBA) are both down -11% over the prior year. That said, Rogers isn’t the only one who sees a bright future for farmers. The heir to Warren Buffett’s [...] Continue Reading...
Let’s face it. Maybe you weren’t cut out for volatility. And the stock market isn’t about to let you garner remarkable rewards in 2012… at least not without monstrous price swings. Can you turn to U.S. treasuries next year? Even if record-low yields didn’t rise, your return may not even keep up with inflation. It doesn’t look [...] Continue Reading...
