U.S. stocks (S&P 500) have packed on Olympic-sized gains through the initial eight weeks of 2013. Fed policy uncertainty aside, 6%-plus capital appreciation on low volatility is impressive by any measure. The bulk of the run-up is attributable to industries tied to economic growth and enhancement. Sector ETFs that represent financials, industrials, technology and energy have [...] Continue Reading...
As long as interest rates remain low, excess money eventually moves into riskier areas on the spectrum. Higher yielding bonds, convertibles, preferreds, stocks… they all benefit. Of course, if fewer people buy treasuries because they pursue greater risks, the Federal Reserve must continue to offset waning demand. Is $85 billion per month enough? It better be. Consider [...] 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...
The yield on a ten-year treasury bond is very close to recovering 2%. That may sound ridiculously low when placed in a historical context. On the other hand, funds like iShares 10-20 Year Treasury (TLH) have logged -2.1% returns year-to-date, precisely because the 10-year’s yield has gained 0.25% in 4 short weeks. On a day when [...] Continue Reading...
After nearly 4 years, retail investors have begun to exit low-yielding investment grade bonds for the perceived potential of stocks. This “rotation” of money flow into equity funds is putting pressure on fund managers to keep pace with the broader benchmarks. In other words, if they hold back cash in the hopes of a better [...] Continue Reading...
Seeking Alpha’s Jonathan Liss recently spoke with Gary to find out how he planned to use ETFs – including alternative ETF strategies not frequently found in more typical investor portfolios – to position clients in 2013. Jonathan Liss (JL): How would you describe your investing style/philosophy? Gary Gordon (GG): Information processing is the best way to describe [...] Continue Reading...
In simpler investing times, an investor purchased treasury bonds for their reliable income stream. Today, the only reason to buy iShares 7-10 Year Treasury (IEF) is for the potential that worldwide demand can push yields lower and prices higher. Similarly, there once was a time when dividends in technology stocks were a mere afterthought. You bought Apple (APPL) because it might go [...] Continue Reading...
Ten short weeks ago, financial journalists celebrated a growth stock renaissance in 2012, applauding the super-sized gains for growth funds and downplaying the performance of value-oriented counterparts. Year-to-date (through 10/1), large-company growth mutual funds had amassed 17.1% whereas large-cap value mutual funds had picked up 14.3%. John Wagoner of USA Today explained that the lag had to [...] Continue Reading...
Over the last 20+ years, my opinions have aroused emotional reactions from readers and listeners alike. And the forum — national talk radio, podcast, newspaper, magazine, digital ink — has been far less critical than the topics themselves. For example, I was one of a handful of original ETF advocates in the mid-90s when few people [...] Continue Reading...
Why do some ETFs succeed and why do others fail? The question certainly seems harmless enough. What’s more, this was the topic of my presentation at the Global Indexing & ETFs Conference in Phoenix yesterday afternoon. As I prepared to speak, I found myself questioning the nature of success. Should I link success to risk-adjusted returns? [...] Continue Reading...
