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Not a Level Playing Field: How Big Investors Benefit from Selective Access to Top Management
by Team of Knowledge @ Wharton,
The title of a research paper by Wharton accounting professor Brian J. Bushee and two colleagues is in the form of a question: "Do Investors Benefit from Selective Access to Management?" The answer, the paper strongly suggests, is yes. Bushee and co-authors Michael J. Jung and Gregory S. Miller define selective access as the opportunity to meet privately with management at invitation-only investor conferences. That access, the researchers say, can result in profitable trading opportunities for big investors.
Why The Price Of Oil Has Risen From About $75 To About $100 Over The Past Six Weeks
by Team of Guild Investment Management,
Many veteran observers seriously question the intelligence of ongoing policies that ignore domestic resources and keep the US sending billions of dollars a year to countries that dislike the US and actively seek Americas decline. After it's recent rise, we recommend investors take profits in oil. It can go higher but we like taking profits after a rapid rise. Also, a mechanism is being put in place that will allow financially-responsible Eurozone countries to force irresponsible members to either make necessary changes in their approach to government spending or to leave the Euro currency.
South Africa's Incredibly Shrinking Gold Production
Finding evidence to pop the talk of a gold bubble is much easier than finding a needle in a haystack. There are enough needles of evidence out there to fill a pin cushion. The latest Gold Demand Trends Report from the World Gold Council contained two salient visuals of how the dynamics of the global gold market have shifted from the West to the East over the past 40 years. Today well take a look at supply, and tomorrow well dive into demand.
European Respite Allows Fundamental Scrutiny of Economy
An interesting week of economic data has allowed the slight respite from the European soap opera to push a more fundamental scrutiny of the economy. The two-day heavy release reveals quite a few of positive surprises, even if they are slight. In Q1 we grew at 0.4%, the Q2 at 1.3% and the non-revised number for the Q3 is at 2.5%. This growth is in light of the acceleration of the European situation that started in July and should have impacted the domestic GDP growth rate. However, we saw just the opposite due to the relative strength of the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar.
U.S. Earnings Update
As 3rd quarter earnings season winds down, more than 90% of the S&P 500 market cap has reported, and it appears were headed for another quarter of record-breaking results. However, whats even more impressive is the revenue growth weve observed across all 10 S&P 500 sectors. The index is currently tracking revenue growth of roughly 13% year-over-year, a clear indicator earnings have been boosted by more than cost cutting. To be sure, margins have also widened out, which has helped fuel earnings growth over the past two years, something well touch on in more detail in the coming pages.
A Risk Lurking in Octobers Retail Sales
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog,
October retail sales are the latest sign that the US economy is likely to avoid another recession and is experiencing what Im calling The Great Idle. But a look behind the retail numbers also reveals a major risk facing the US economy. With unemployment still high and wages growing so slowly that hourly workers are losing purchasing power at the fastest rate in 20 years, you may be wondering where consumers are getting the money to buy new cars or the latest iPhone. It turns out that surprisingly brisk retail spending is being supported by lower savings and by help from the government.
Alternative BetaThe Third Choice
by Jason C. Hsu of Research Affiliates,
New research by Research Affiliates finds that leading alternative beta strategies, including the Fundamental Index approach, outperform capitalization-weighted index funds over time. However, investors should closely examine their respective implementation costs, such as turnover and capacity constraints.
As Alternative Investments Move into the Mainstream, Advisors and Investors Need to Choose Wisely
by Team of Emerald Asset Advisors,
We believe that having a piece of an overall portfolio that is committed to liquid alternatives is a critical component to long-term portfolio stability, capital preservation and growth. No one wants a repeat of 2008, or anything close to it. There are an abundance of liquid alternative choices available, some of which have proven themselves through various market cycles and environments. They have gone from Wall Street to Main Street for good reason. Embrace the opportunity, and you and your clients may just sleep a bit better at night during these volatile times.
Ben Bernanke: The Decider
by Tony Crescenzi of PIMCO,
Amid great economic stress, policymakers have missed many opportunities to improve the situation and better the lives of people.
The leadership void in the U.S. was illustrated by the dismal display of policy dysfunction that led the country to lose its AAA credit rating. European leaders have fared no better.
Ben Bernanke and the Fed, however, have demonstrated leadership. What is both remarkable and instructive for the outlook for monetary policy is how active the Fed remains even though it has reached the zero-bound for interest rates.
The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth... Kinda
Determination of fact can be a science but discerning meaning is an art. For example, we recently spoke one-on-one with a fund manager who we have a long history with. He in no uncertain terms told us to steer clear of his asset class for now and even made other suggestions. A week later, on the general shareholder call, the manager listed all the reasons why the asset class did well year to date, which was the truth-but not the whole truth.The audience did not alter the facts but it sure impacted the message. Investors need to go beyond the facts and find the substance.
It Ain't Over Till It's OverAnd Thats Not Happening Soon
by Team of Guild Investment Management,
Dont expect the current crisis of budgetary deficits and spending restraints to stop any time soon. Instead, think in these realistic terms: the era of fiscal restraint and spending limits has come, and will be with us for ten to twenty more years. It is obvious to veteran observers that Europe and America are facing hard choices that will result in slow growth and increased suffering for the people. And for that we have our incompetent legislators past and present to thank. They have misused their mandates, grossly exceeded their budgets, and are loath to correct wayward behaviors.
The Super Committee - Much Ado About Little
Every extra dollar of tax revenue the Committee might agree to, will limit spending reductions. This is the only real danger of the Super Committee; that it somehow ends up raising taxes and not cutting spending. No agreement and a complete breakdown of the committee which forces automatic sequestration is better for the economy than a compromise that includes large tax hikes. But, no matter what happens, the impact of the Super Committee is being exaggerated in the extreme.
Gump Pong
The behavior of the stock market of late has been a lot like Forrest Gump practicing ping pong-blazingly fast and completely mesmerizing. After zoning out, I had to ask myself, did that really happen? I've experienced many ups and downs in the stock market over the last twenty-five years, but rarely have I ever seen so many high speed, directional changes compressed into such a narrow period of time. By my count, the S&P 500 experienced four round trip volleys of ten percent or more since early August, before moving to higher ground in late October-all on lighter than normal volumes.
In a World Dependent on Crude, is Natural Gas the Savior?
by Chris Maxey of Fortigent,
It will be a busy week in the US with reports on inflation, retail sales, industrial production and housing starts. Inflationary pressure is likely to show further signs of easing in October, particularly as food costs continue to stabilize. Retail sales were quite strong in September, but gains for October are expected to be more muted. Earnings season is winding down, with quarterly reports expected from UniCredit, Dell, Home Depot, Walmart, Target, Vivendi, Dollar Tree and Gap. The only major central bank to meet this week is the Bank of Japan, which is unlikely to change rates.
QE2 and Its Impact on Sterling Credit Markets
The removal of government bond supply combined with the likely suppression of yields may encourage investors to seek out greater yield via investment grade bonds in the credit markets. The BoEs new round of QE could exacerbate the imbalance between supply and demand and leave a hole in supply that is highly unlikely to be filled by sterling credit issuance. The lack of issuance in the case of non-financials is generally due to strong corporate balance sheets, undrawn credit lines at banks and the rebirth of the loan market.
Are TIPS Really Safe and Worry-Free?
by Wade Pfau,
The Fed's aggressive monetary easing has many investors considering TIPS as a cornerstone of their retirement strategy. While TIPS' unique ability to protect against CPI-based inflation is undeniable, many investors neglect to consider the risks they pose, particularly for those who have not yet reached retirement.
It's All Greek to Me
by Michael Lewitt,
As one who has written that there is little chance of a long-term solution to Europe's problems without a radical rethinking of global economic policy, the Europeans still have little choice once they peer over the cliff to realize other than to step back and buy some time before taking the inevitable leap. For, in the end, they have no other options than to jump.
Are Gold Prices Correlated to the Real Federal Funds Rate?
by Georg Vrba, P.E.,
The price of gold depends on many variables, among them the real federal funds rate, which is the federal funds rate adjusted for inflation. But the real federal funds rate, or RFFR, alone does not explain variation in gold prices. One must also look at the change in the RFFR for a full understanding.
An Endgame for Japans Debt?
by Bryce Fegley of Saturna Capital,
The Japanese government's ability to extract itself from two decades of runaway debt has become all the more challenging in the face of its shrinking tax base, rising interest payments, and social security obligations, not to mention the aftermath of its earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters. The recent precedent of the country's dysfunctional political system does not bode well for making tough choices necessary to stabilize the debt. Of the possible consequences of the runaway debt, eventual monetization, high inflation, and currency devaluation are the most likely outcomes.
Occupy Yahoo
This is the first part of a non-vampire trilogy which will explore some of our inner thinking on the juxtaposition of "business vs. value vs. people" in the investment decision making process-a process that has led us to recent investments in Yahoo, HP and News Corp in our non-small cap strategies. In this first installment, we will focus on Yahoo for no other reason than to honor the company's place within the pantheon of failed corporate governance.
Michael Aronstein on Today's Key Macro Trends
by Robert Huebscher,
Michael Aronstein is the president and chief executive officer of Marketfield Asset Management. Since its inception in 2008, his fund has returned 31% while the S&P has been down 15%. I spoke with him about the key macroeconomic and strategic issues facing investors today.
Minimize Relationships at Your Peril: A Response to Dan Richards
by Amy Florian,
Salespeople who focus on interpersonal relationships are less successful, according to a recent article by Dan Richards, based on research published in the Harvard Business Review. This research is shortsighted and misguided, and its supposed implications for financial advisors deserve close scrutiny.
Every Picture Tells a Story: Market Charts Looking Good
by Liz Ann Sonders of Charles Schwab,
With so much focus on the macro, I thought an update on the micro would be welcome.
Several measures of sentiment, valuation and technical conditions show the market to be in pretty good shape.
Macro headwinds persist, but the expectations bar has arguably been set low enough to be easily hurdled.
What Clients can Learn from the Four Worst Market Calls Ever
by Dan Richards,
Bad investment advice can come from many sources, but perhaps none has been worse than what was offered by four experts whose media profile exceeded their investment acumen: Irving Fisher, Joe Granville, Robert Prechter and Henry Blodget. Here's some historical context and practical advice to help clients avoid the trap of listening to the gurus who dominate newspaper headlines.
A Strategy with a 25-year Record of 25% Returns
by Robert Huebscher,
Indiana-based SBAuer Funds launched its inaugural mutual fund in December of 2007, after having established a successful track record with a separately managed account business. I spoke with Bob Auer, who has employed the same stock selection system used by the fund for the last 25 years, over which time returns have averaged 25% annually.
Capital Flows: Asias Quiet Revolution
by Gerald Hwang of Matthews Asia,
As markets evolve, so do regulations. The reflexive rebuke of capital controls once voiced by Western regulators has given way to a more flexible approach in times of extreme volatility. Asias regulators have observed the efficacy of volatility-dampening measures, and thus far, appear to have avoided the worst excesses. As fears continue over diminishing U.S. dollar power, Asias bonds remain attractive diversifiers for their yields and good credit ratings. However, one should never forget the volatile history of currencies in Asia.
Why US Equities Look Expensive, but Japan Does Not
by Russ Koesterich of iShares Blog,
Im downgrading my view of US equities to neutral from overweight. Since I first initiated an overweight on US stocks last December, large cap US equities have outperformed global equities by roughly 5%. The US has recently become marginally more expensive relative to other countries at the same time that its growth prospects have worsened. Im upgrading my view of Japanese stocks to overweight from neutral given Japans low valuations, better growth prospects and stable risk. This is a value call. Japan currently trades at under book value, down from 1.11 times book value 6 months ago.
ProVise Bullets
by Team of ProVise Management Group,
2012 may be the year that banks get back into the business of actually lending money. While some of the banks that avoided the real estate fiascos have been in a position to lend money to the most highly qualified borrowers, we should see a significant increase in lending by all banks during 2012. Like consumers, big banks spent the last few years repairing their balance sheets. They now need to find ways to deploy their capital other than using it for a write-off. Interest rates are about as low as they can go, especially for high quality borrowers.
Colditz and the Trevi Fountain
Bottom Line: Keeping volatility down. Raising cash and using the trading opportunities in bonds. Trimming international especially Europe; DAX is 11% off October lows; but sentiment is very negative. This bond rally is all about the need to cover much higher margins on repos for European and Italian bonds but could have more to go.
Act and Learn Versus Debate and Wait
Signs of disappointing policy outcomes are, unfortunately, all around us. Over the last two years, American policymakers have failed miserably to lower persistently high unemployment despite a series of stimulus measures, fiscal and monetary, conventional and unconventional. In Europe, the debt crisis has spread despite numerous summits, declarations, policy actions and political changes. In both cases, policymakers identified and sometimes mis-identified the problems and took highly publicized steps to solve them. Yet to no avail. The identified problems not only persisted, they deepened.
Should Greece Leave the Euro Area?
by Fred Copper of Columbia Management,
Under the terms of the proposed bailout agreement, the answer is YES, Greece should leave. The consequences of leaving would be extraordinary, almost inconceivable. In fact, legally, there is no mechanism that permits either a forced or voluntary departure from the Euro Area (EA). However, the terms of the currently proposed arrangement are so punitive that it is worthwhile for Greece to leave the EA despite the near-term pain it would cause.
Should Greece Leave the Euro Area?
by Fred Copper of Columbia Management,
Under the terms of the proposed bailout agreement, the answer is YES, Greece should leave. The consequences of leaving would be extraordinary, almost inconceivable. In fact, legally, there is no mechanism that permits either a forced or voluntary departure from the Euro Area (EA). However, the terms of the currently proposed arrangement are so punitive that it is worthwhile for Greece to leave the EA despite the near-term pain it would cause.
Italian Job Redux
by Jeffrey Saut of Raymond James,
On Wednesday, Enel, the major Italian oil company, said, Its time to tell the truth to Italians. Number 1: The party is over. The party referenced is the welfare state that has careened so many Mediterranean countries down the entitlement road. Recently, driven by the sovereign debt markets, reality has arrived at the crossroads along with the realization that the welfare-state needs major austerity reforms. Ignoring lessons our union leaders steered us down the same road as Ohio voted to reverse a law designed to curb the bargaining power of unions representing public employees.
Weekly Market Commentary
Incredibly low interest rates are telling us a story that few seem able to decipher. For well over a year, interest rates on cash deposits have been near zero, while the reward for being a long-term Treasury investor has hovered below 3%. The last time rates coalesced around 2% was more than a generation ago. Concurrently, the economy has lost buying power, jobs, and valuation. As every global bourse in my universe struggles to gain upside traction, a worldwide decline in sentiment, earnings acceleration, and pricing power has diminished the foundation of free-exchange and capital markets.
The European Stutter Step
by Milton Ezrati of Lord Abbett,
Markets have shown a mixed response to Europes agreement on sovereign debt. On the positive side, Germany, France, European banks, and other members of the eurozone have shown more direction, control, cooperation, and concerted action than previously, and in so doing, have taken a step to avoid panic and what could easily have become a global financial meltdown. But still, Europe and, consequently, the rest of the world remain far from out of the woods. This latest step is inadequate. To get a grip on the crisis, the ECB will need to add its financial resources.
Super Committee To The Rescue?
by Scott Brown of Raymond James,
Hows it going? Not good. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has to score the super committees recommendations and return its analysis to the committee by November 21, which would allow the committee two days to make changes before its final recommendations. The CBO was supposed to receive the bulk of the recommendations by late October or early November. Things are a little behind schedule. The committee seemed doomed to fail from its inception
And Thats The Week That Was
by Ron Brounes of Brounes & Associates,
Retailers continue to showcase their prior quarters as Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Staples, Gap, and Ann Taylor take turns reporting profits. Additionally, October retail sales give investors one final look at the picture before the mad rush of Black Friday. The inflation data is also reported though the latest push upward in crude will not be reflected quite yet. Europe continues to be the talk of the town and all eyes will remain on Greece and Italy as the world watches the transitions of power in those two struggling economies.
The Upshot: Fear vs. Fundamentals
There is continued disparity between investor moods and a healthy corporate America. A vicious tug-of-war between positive economic data and negative news formed the backdrop for another tumultuous week in the financial markets. The tiebreaker was a more optimistic take on Europes ability to solve its debt problems, which enabled stocks to finish the week on a positive note with the S&P 500 gaining less than 1%. Looking at the stock market's progress so far in 2011, it has been a similar tale: volatility with little to show for it. The S&P 500 is up a modest 0.5% year to date.
Don't Fret the Foreign Stuff
Guess what? Japans real GDP grew at a 6% annual rate in the third quarter, a sharp snapback from the downturn following that awful earthquake and tsunami. Much of the rebound was auto-related, as manufacturers overcame problems with electricity and the supply-chain. While the swings in Japan are more dramatic, US economic data shows the same pattern. Real GDP accelerated in the US to a 2.5% annual growth rate in Q3. If we exclude the large drag from an inventory slowdown, real final sales grew 3.6%.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
News from Europe continued to roil markets on a daily basis, but when all was said and done there were new governments in Greece and Italy (same governments just different leaders), and the stock market advanced on the week as economic data and earnings continued to impress investors. As the charts above illustrate the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4% while the NASDAQ Composite was flat as concerns over Apple held back that average.
Pacific Basin Market Overview October 2011
by Team of Nomura Asset Management,
The Japanese equity market ended the month of October almost unchanged. Concerns about Europes sovereign debt crisis and a slowdown in the global economy initially sent the index sliding to a new year-to-date low at the outset. Subsequently, the Japanese stock market rebounded along with a steady retreat from the excessive investor pessimism surrounding overseas economic conditions. Positive U.S. economic indicators, including unexpectedly strong employment figures, housing data and solid GDP growth, boosted market confidence.
Where is the ECB Printing Press?
There is too much debt in many southern countries; France is not far from having its own crisis if they do not get back into balance. And if they lose their AAA rating, then any EFSF solution is just so much bad paper. The path of least resistance, and I use that term guardedly, is for the ECB to find its printing press. Perhaps they can borrow one from Bernanke.
Just as Domestic Demand Picks Up, Foreign Demand Weakens
by Asha Bangalore of Northern Trust,
The Commerce Departments first estimate of Q3:2011 real GDP growth was 2.5% annualized. Although this headline was better than the 0.8% annualized real GDP growth in the first half of 2011, underneath the headline, the news was even cheerier. Real final sales to domestic purchasers grew at an annualized rate of 3.2% in Q3:2011, the fastest growth of this measure since the 4.9% posted in Q2:2010. So, is it onward and upward for the U.S. economy going forward? Unlikely. Although things may be looking up for domestic demand, foreign demand for U.S. exports is expected to wane.
Get Paid to Play Gold
With money markets and Treasuries yielding next to nothing these days, investors are finding income in new places. One area those investors should consider is gold mining. With gold rising in value, mining companies are reaping record profit margins, yet the stock prices are depressed due to lack of investor interest. A solution for both gold companies and investors may be dividends, specifically gold-linked dividends. Several top-tier gold producers that are benefiting from higher gold prices have begun to share a portion of their profits with shareholders via a dividend payout.
Style Investing Revisited: A Disciplined Approach Means More Than Adhering to a Style Universe
by Team of The Royce Funds,
Over time much has been written about style investinggrowth versus valuewithin the small-cap universe. In fact, investors often rely on style indexes such as the Russell 2000 Value Index and Russell 2000 Growth Index as proxies for a particular style and/or performance pattern, such as moving to value in anticipation of a bear market or growth in expectation of a bull. While this is certainly easy and convenient, especially for performance comparisons, style indexes are often more about a particular type of company or narrow set of criteria as opposed to a specific investment approach.
Down with the Eurozone
by Nouriel Roubini of Project Syndicate,
The eurozone crisis seems to be reaching its climax, with Greece on the verge of default and an inglorious exit from the monetary union, and now Italy on the verge of losing market access. But the eurozone's problems are much deeper. They are structural, and they severely affect at least four other economies: Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus, and Spain. With Italy too big to fail, too big to save, the endgame for the eurozone has begun. Sequential, coercive restructurings of debt will come first, and then exits from the monetary union that will eventually lead to disintegration.
ASEAN Cooperation
by Tarik Jaleel of Matthews Asia,
Given the difficulties facing the European Union, there tend to be very few die-hard proponents of economic integration, or more specifically, monetary integration. This makes the pledge by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to move ahead with forming an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) a surprising phenomenon. The establishment and prioritization of a move toward a common market by 2015 with free movement of resources comes in response to increased competition posed by China and India.
Results 5,101–5,150
of 10,992 found.
