Few seem to care about the potential for monstrous declines when stock assets are within a few percentage points of all-time highs. In fact, it becomes increasingly difficult for an objective observer to see the investment environment as it is… rather than through magenta-colored glasses. At times like these, bears go into hibernation. Meanwhile, bulls present [...] Continue Reading...
The S&P 500 has not merely been resilient in its six consecutive weeks of gains. The celebrated U.S. stock benchmark has been unstoppable in its 8.3% unrealized run-up. Granted, nearly everyone expects a period of mild selling activity (a.k.a. “a breather”). Indeed, history certainly suggests that unbridled enthusiasm usually gets a reality check or three. The [...] Continue Reading...
High Yield Corporate Bond ETFs, Europe & ETFs, Winter Storm Impact & ETFs, Japan & ETFs, Currency ETFs Click here to listen to the show: 2-10-2012 Continue Reading...
Investing in stock assets when the S&P 500 is hitting fresh highs can be as dangerous as driving on a yet-to-be-plowed stretch of highway. You may get to your destination without a hitch. Then again, you might spin out of control and crash. At present, both the Eurozone’s ongoing recession and “Snowmageddon” on the East Coast [...] Continue Reading...
The S&P 500 set an all-time record high on 10/9/2007. Three weeks earlier, the iShares High Yield Corporate Bond Fund (HYG) had reached its pinnacle, and then promptly began falling from grace. Does this suggest that when low-rated bonds begin to struggle, stocks are not far behind? If so, what should we make of the fact [...] Continue Reading...
Japanese stocks have been perennial underachievers. So when I suggested on December 20 that investors might benefit from WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity (DXJ), I was asking certain readers to challenge conventional wisdom. (See “A Foreign Stock ETF For A Rapidly Declining Currency.”) My thought process on the matter was relatively straight-forward. The incoming prime minister of [...] Continue Reading...
Rising stock prices often have a way of covering up significant woes. Many journalists and market prognosticators had all but buried the Eurozone debt crisis, declaring that bankrupt member nations had discovered a viable path forward. Not surprisingly, the facts are starting to trip up the rhetoric. Spain’s economy shrank 0.7% in the final quarter of [...] Continue Reading...
Asia ETFs, Europe & ETFs, Precious Metals ETFs, Fixed Income ETFs, Brazilian ETFs Click here to listen to the show: 2-3-2012 Continue Reading...
