One possible explanation for the recent divergence in stock market performance vis-à-vis the broader economy is the performance of the tech sector. Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, and Facebook now comprise ~22% of the S&P 500 index. It’s no wonder that the stock market held up the way it has. For companies above (perhaps with the …
“It’s all over. They’ve gone and lost it.” This was just one of the comments that popped up in my Facebook feed on March 15th, the day the Fed cut interest rates to zero and launched a massive stimulus program. “They have nothing left in the tank! No more ammo to fight the battle!” As …
If you are putting money to work with the objective of maximizing long-term investment returns, there’s only one right answer to the bonds vs stocks equation. The data simply doesn’t lie: over extended periods of time, equities trump fixed income instruments by a wide margin. Go 100% equities, relax, and let them do the heavy …
Bonds vs Stocks: What 30+ Years Of Performance Means For Your Portfolio Read More »
For anyone who is following the financial markets these days, Monday was an eye-opener. For the first time in history, the price of oil has gone into negative territory. At its nadir, a barrel of WTI (West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark for oil) traded for minus $40. That’s right. If you owned a barrel …
The day has finally arrived. On Easter Monday, with our son dozing off for his afternoon nap and our daughter mesmerized by yet another episode of Peppa, I have finally managed to sneak into the home office and update the spreadsheet. Over the past few years, I have become far less dogmatic on tracking our …
Key Reflections And Takeaways From Our Most Recent Net Worth Update Read More »
Even in normal times, a big chunk of my days is spent in conversations with what is sometimes known as “smart money”. On the asset management side, this includes active money managers like Fidelity, Legal & General, Invesco, and many other household names. They often hold large positions in companies that we represent, so an …
What The Smart Money Is Thinking Now – And Why You Can Do Better Read More »
It’s official. We’ve gone from what seemed like a nasty, yet temporary wobble in the markets to a full-blown crisis. The true scale of the damage to the world economy is unknown so far, but it’s clear the situation is more complex than it appeared at first – and will likely get worse before it …
When it comes to financial self-education, you can hardly do worse than spend one hour a year reading Warren Buffett’s annual letter to Berkshire’s shareholders. Informative, entertaining and thought-provoking, Buffett’s letters are a far better source of information and advice than 99% of the financial media out there. And unlike the financial media, Buffett’s advice …
