The Big Short’s Michael Burry Explains Why Index Funds Are Like Subprime CDOs

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: For an investor whose story was featured in a best-selling book and an Oscar-winning movie, Michael Burry has kept a surprisingly low profile in recent years. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Sep 04, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-04/michael-burry-explains-why-index-funds-are-like-subprime-cdos Questions for discussion: Summarize the analysis presented? Do you agree with the risk perception? What should investors… Read more »

Biggest Bond Rout in Years Whiplashes Bulls Who Had Been Right

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: (Bloomberg) — After August’s historic drop, it was starting to seem like Treasury yields could only fall. And then came Thursday, when an enormous surge reminded even well-entrenched bulls that the world’s biggest bond market isn’t a one-way street. Source: Bloomberg – Yahoo.Finance.com – video report Date: Sep 05, 2019 Link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bond-bulls-big-reminder-treasuries-145330270.html Questions for… Read more »

Mohamed El-Erian on the bond markets: ‘If you stick with the old rules, you will lose’

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Economist Mohamed El-Erian told CNBC Friday that investors need to think differently about the global bond market, saying that the asset class should be treated in an “opportunistic” manner rather than as a core part of a portfolio. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Sep 04, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/06/mohamed-el-erian-on-bonds-if-you-stick-with-old-rules-you-will-lose.html Questions for discussion: What is… Read more »

The Almighty Dollar Needs a Rival

Posted by & filed under Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: America’s currency has become the lingua franca of commerce. That’s “putting the global economy under increasing strain.” Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Aug 29, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-29/the-almighty-dollar-needs-a-rival?srnd=businessweek-v2 Questions for discussion: What are the issues related to the role played by the U.S. dollar in global business and investment? Do you think there would be a serious… Read more »

Why record low bond yields could keep heading lower as market fears ‘disaster scenario’

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Bond yields are heading south, and there appears to be no stopping them for now. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Aug 29, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/28/bond-yields-still-heading-lower-as-market-fears-disaster-scenario.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail Questions for discussion: What does the article say is reason for concern? Do you agree with the analysis? What should investors do today?

Here’s how the stocks held by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway have performed in 2019

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Winners include Mastercard and Costco, while Kraft Heinz is one of the worst performers Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Aug 29, 2019 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-the-stocks-held-by-warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-have-performed-in-2019-2019-08-29?mod=mw_theo_homepage Questions for discussion: Summarize the portfolio performance. Explain what happened? What can an investor learn from Buffett’s decisions?

S&P 500 and Nasdaq close at record highs after strong GDP report

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Stocks traded slightly higher on Friday as investors weighed better-than-expected economic data against a mixed batch of quarterly earnings. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Apr 26, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/26/stock-market-gdp-data-and-corporate-earnings-in-focus-on-wall-street.html Questions for discussion: What explains stock performances, according to the article? What would you expect investors to do going forward at this time?

US crude plunges 2.9%, settling at $63.30, after Trump says he told OPEC to tame fuel costs

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: Oil prices tumbled as much as 4% on Friday, extending early losses after President Donald Trump said he told OPEC to take action to temper fuel costs. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Apr 26, 2019 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/26/oil-market-opec-output-rises-us-sanctions-on-iranian-oil-in-focus.html Questions for discussion: Why did oil prices pull back, according to the report? Explain oil prices and their effect… Read more »

`FOMO Undertow’ and a Century of Death-Defying S&P 500 Rebounds

Posted by & filed under Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: (Bloomberg) — Memo to traders back from the most bruising bout of the bull market. If the past is any precedent, the rewards of sticking around can be high. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Apr 16, 2019 Link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bullish-history-near-death-experiences-110500656.html Questions for discussion: What does the analysis suggest may happen? Do you agree with this assessment?

Stock market at ‘risk of a melt-up, not a meltdown’, warns BlackRock’s Larry Fink

Posted by & filed under Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Market Analysis, Personal Finance.

Description: BlackRock Inc. BLK, +3.25%  Chief Exeuctive Larry Fink says that with stocks knocking on the door of records, a surge to the upside appears more likely than a market collapse. That is because so many investors still have lots of cash to put to work, the head of the world’s largest asset manager told CNBC in a Tuesday interview…. Read more »