Just as one cold wave follows another this winter, waves of market volatility have become the norm in 2014. Do the waves of volatility forecast a change in the investment climate, or is it just a naturally recurring market rhythm? Based on our readings, seasonal volatility does not appear to be a precursor of a
This week we continue the theme begun last week—examining the economy and the stock market as we turn the page on a New Year. This week we present three articles that in varying degrees, address the economy and markets from different angles. The first article compares present conditions to those that existed prior to the
Why diversify—especially in years like this when the S&P 500 is doing so well? The essence of diversification is captured by the proverb: “Do not put all your eggs in one basket.” Insights into diversification were given a theoretical basis by Harry Markowitz (1952), who won the Nobel Prize for his work in 1990. Click
Are we in a bubble? A few clients have asked this recently—a natural one with the major indexes reaching new highs. The short answer: we’re probably not in a bubble, but cautious investors should consider reducing their equity bets. The stock market is high because corporate profits are high, and stock prices ultimately are driven
Investors can profit from the insights of this year’s Nobel prizewinners in economics. Though each award winner’s viewpoint seemingly contradicts the other’s viewpoint, together they provide insight into how securities markets are valued. Eugene Fama of the University of Chicago is father of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis (EMH); Robert Shiller of Yale University shot down
Stock and bond markets are recovering from the spasms felt May 22 to June 24. This week we take a close look at what just happened; review a provocative article on why bond yields may drop further; and re-state the case for investing in Emerging Markets, which have not rallied at the same pace as