Bonds
Incorporating Bonds Into Your Portfolio
I’m 10 years old and sitting at the kitchen table with my grandfather. I remember it like it was yesterday. He was reading the paper and I kept asking him questions about the stock market. I must have been on my 3,000th question when he told me something shocking. At least to my 10 year […]
How Unemployment Numbers Will Impact The Stock Market
The second I stepped into my car I knew today would be interesting. On my daily commute, I always tune my radio to the Financial News Network. It’s an all business/all news radio program. I guess studying the market ten to twelve hours a day isn’t enough for me. I’ve got to listen to market […]
Layoffs And Rising Unemployment
I woke up this morning to some unsettling news. Dow Chemical (DOW) is shutting 20 plants and asking 11% of its workforce to leave. On top of that, they’re cutting another 6,000 contractors from payroll. Last week DuPont (DD), another chemical manufacturer, dismissed 2,500 employees. 3M (MMM) is also announcing layoffs this morning… 1,800 jobs. […]
Next President Faces Major Challenges
Election Day. It’s the biggest day in American politics. November 4th is less than a week away. It’s the day when all of America (at least the registered voters) go to the polls and cast a ballot for President. Today I’m going to do something some people might find repugnant. I’m going to try and […]
How To Generate Income From Your Portfolio
I’m biased. I’ll admit it. I’m not afraid to tell you that when it comes to investing in bonds I’ve paid more attention to Barry Bonds than investment grade bonds. Seriously, how could I not pay attention to the disgraced baseball player? I lived in San Francisco for 10 years and I went to Giant’s […]
Protect Your Investment Portfolio Against Inflation And Stagflation
The results are in . . . and the results are surprising to say the least. Economic data posted this week shows that the US Economy grew during the first quarter at 0.9%. I was totally surprised, and I’m sure you were too. Given the deteriorating credit markets and the collapse of the housing industry […]
Apartment REITs Benefit From Housing Crisis
I’m an optimist. Ask anyone in my family. I always have been and probably always will be. Sometimes being an optimist can hurt you as an investor. You might overlook a small detail that another investor would see as a huge problem. I know this, and that’s why I always try to go the extra […]
How Inflation Causes a Top In The Bond Market
Just yesterday I was sitting in a meeting. Nothing new. I seem to spend my days hopping from one meeting to the next. I had the opportunity to meet with top management at a small mining company. Their specialty is silver and copper and the business intrigued me. As you know the commodity market has […]
Federal Reserve Creates Term Securities Lending Facility – Market Rallies
Yesterday the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 400 points. It was truly amazing! I normally don’t encourage people to watch the market minute by minute, but yesterday’s rally was something to behold. Everything on the screen was green. Why the rally? News came out yesterday of a novel way for the Federal Reserve […]
Warren Buffett-Municipal Bonds-Bond Insurers
I love watching The Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. Yesterday, he caused the Dow Jones Industrial Average to move up over 130 points by making a simple announcement. What did he say? He offered to “help”, and I use that term lightly, troubled re-insurance companies Ambac (ABK), MBIA (MBI), and Financial Guaranty. Whenever these offers […]
