There is a lot of confusion surrounding the bond market and yields, and there is one misnomer I feel compelled to address. A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled, U.S. Government Bonds Rise; Foreign Investors Pile into Auctions (May 14, 2015) highlights a common misconception about bonds. The author attempts to explain the recent pop in yields...Read More

While the markets have oscillated since my last blog their status remains unchanged. All stock markets, American or otherwise, remain near all-time highs. Here are a few Wall Street Journal headlines that can be tied to recent stock market volatility. GDP Growth Estimates Tumble, Again (3.25.2015) U.S. Stocks Down After Weak Economic Data (4.2.2015) Fed’s Rate Decision...Read More

One of the most paralyzing conditions for investors is when they’re scared of making a move – afraid of what might unexpectedly happen. How often things don’t go as planned — and so they sometimes decide to leave well enough alone and hope issues magically disappear and/or correct, and that robust gains will automatically incubate...Read More

Stock prices and yields are key indicators of economic vitality. In healthy markets they move together higher during expansions, and lower during downturns. These are both choreographed moves from central government planners as well as natural results from free market activity. Investors are naturally pulled towards higher rewards – and nothing outperforms the stock market...Read More

Last week Dow Jones announced that Apple will replace battered telecom giant AT&T in the Industrial Average. The change will take place on March 19, 2015, and while most theories regarding the change point to the impending 4-to-1 stock-split of another Dow component (Visa), I suggest a very different motive: Poor Performance. See below. There is...Read More

Several weeks ago President Obama gave his State of the Union speech and according to him all is hunky-dory. He touted the fastest growing economy since the tech boom, the strongest labor market since 1999, and shrinking deficits for the first time since the Great Recession. Either Obama is living in a different world than...Read More

Gold has quietly risen 12% from its 52-week low reached just a few months ago, on November 5, 2014. In that time yields have dropped a whopping 24%, also with little fanfare. But stocks, again, stole the headlines. Volatility is the theme. The Dow Average has been up a point or down a point more...Read More

Two Wall Street Journal articles recently crossed the wire that reinforce the overriding themes in my book: mutual funds stink, and no one can do a better job managing your financial assets than you can because no one cares more for your financial well-being than you do. Let the following stream of consciousness serve as...Read More

Stocks got slammed this week on the good news that oil prices continued to drop. Oil is now just $57 per barrel, down 50% from a year ago. Yet the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 3.8% in the week and 15-51 Strength lost 2.9%. Gold added 2.6% and yields dropped sharply, again. The 10 Year...Read More

There is little doubt that the recent drop in fuel prices has significantly affected economic activity to the upside. Gas prices around my market have dropped more than a dollar per gallon. That gives consumers an extra $100 to $200 per month to distribute to other sectors of the market economy – and with the...Read More