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Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
  • Ping Junkster. What would be your short list of Buy & Hold High Yield Bond Funds?
    @MikeM2 This is way more than you are bargaining for but am just now working on a free update to something I wrote long ago. Below is a small part of that and a work still in progress. So I apologize for the tedious read. As you will see below, I am not a fan of diversification. I was unable to attach the equity curves mentioned below. If someone can explain how to attach a document from my computer on the board would be glad to do so. The part on bonds is at the very end.
    "So let’s get into my particular style of trading. It may well not be anyone’s cup of tea and that suits me just fine. First off you have to know I have an extreme aversion to risk. Such an aversion that some could argue I had no business whatsoever trying to make it as a trader. So to compensate for my risk aversion I developed a methodology that eliminates risk and volatility as much as possible. I realize the academics might say otherwise, but to me volatility *is* risk. Unlike most traders who thrive on volatility, it is my enemy. My primary goal as a trader is to NOT lose or as little as possible. To cut my losses in the blink of an aye. To not think/analyse - just react when price moves against me.
    Once I changed my mindset back in the spring of 1985, my goal was to make money every month. A goal that has remained my primary constant to this very day. I could best achieve that goal by low risk, yet consistently profitable strategies. Hitting singles and doubles and then using the compound effect to accumulate wealth over the years.
    For me, profitable low risk trading and consistently compounding my capital over time can be summarized in three words - TIGHT RISING CHANNELS. Tight rising channels have little to no volatility. With the tight rising channel pattern and its inherent low volatility that enables me to deploy (in increments) 100% of my nest egg. So what does a tight rising channel look like. It looks much like my equity curves as previously shown in this update of my futures trading and my mutual fund trading.
    You may wonder how I handled tight rising channels while day trading stock index futures - an asset class notorious for its wild intraday swings. What I did was uncover three particular early morning patterns which more often than not led to later day tight rising channels in the futures. I uncovered these patterns from my constant monitoring of the market and the stock index futures via the CNBC tape. Unfortunately the CNBC tape nowadays is a different animal of that back in the 80s and 90s.
    I have discussed these day trading patterns ad nauseam in books, magazine articles, and seminars so no need to go into detail on them here. Plus, I overlayed these patterns with a host of indicators, primarily sentiment, on whether or not to take the trade. That is where the art of trading came into play. These patterns were such that I traded maybe 3 or 4 times a week at best.
    While consistently profitable as a part time day trader, because of my aversion to risk I was unable to ever trade more than one contract. The stock index futures are leveraged vehicles and leverage can be a killer. My monthly profits were a very modest and mundane $716 a month over a 122 month period. I had other part time employment which paid the bills. This enabled me to roll my day trading profits into the trading of mutual funds. That is where I made my real money as a trader. In fact, there were two monthly periods where I made more money in the funds than the entire 122 months I day traded the stock index futures.
    So why mutual funds? Primarily because since they are diversified with a large number of holdings, they are more prone to tight rising channels when they are in uptrends. Secondarily, everyone trades the futures, options, and individual equities, while very few trade mutual funds. That alone, not following the trading herd, is reason enough for me. My entire life I have never been a follower or into grouthink. So I would like to believe that streak of independence is also what led me into the trading of mutual funds.
    In the 90s, I was focused most on trading sector funds - technology, healthcare, leisure, etc. as well as small cap growth funds. While Fidelity had a host of sector funds, they also imposed short term trading fees. That led me to INVESCO which also had several sector funds and where there were no fees for in and out trading. I also had a trading account at the now defunct Strong Investments.
    I believe a large part of anyone’s success has an element of luck - being in the right place a the right time. I could not have been any luckier than having my accounts at INVESCO and Strong. I could trade free of any commissions and fees and as often as I wanted. I fully participated in the new fund effect back in those days being that both firms brought new funds to the market frequently. I could also dateline international funds whenever the datelining pattern occurred.
    Datelining and the constant in and out trading without fees are now a thing of the past. But I adjusted. As my account grew over time, my aversion to risk became even more extreme. That led me to the trading of bond mutual funds, more specifically high yield corporates, high yield munis, and floating rate. This was an easy transition as junk bonds had always been my one true love in the financial arena dating back to the early 90s when I began trading them along with the sector funds. The bond funds were custom made for me because they had even tighter rising channels due to even less volatility. So it was much easier to deploy 100% of my trading capital there."












    










  • DSEUX / DLEUX
    Thanks. Kinda weak articles and arguments, seemed to me, except the middle Israelsen one that starts in 01, bad case for US LC.
    But sure for the 7Twelve. He is like Merriman and his Lazys.
    Not sure how much deeper most need to go than this, though (Waggoner updated, from 2015):
    ... do international funds help your portfolio? In terms of return, it's hard to argue that they have, at least within most investors' experience. The past 25 years, large-cap U.S. funds have gained an average 691%, vs. 338% for international funds. U.S. funds have beaten international funds the past five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years.
    You could argue that European stocks are cheap, relative to U.S. stocks, which is quite true. But then again, they nearly always are, because they don't grow as rapidly. You could also argue that there are more foreign companies than there are U.S. companies, and that investing in them gives you broader market exposure. That's also true. Then again, companies in the S&P 500 get 46.2% of their earnings from overseas, and that's enough international exposure for anyone.
    Why have U.S. investors rushed to international funds? In part because much of U.S. mutual fund purchases are controlled by financial advisers, and conventional wisdom is that a stock portfolio should have about 20% of its assets in international stocks. As of the end of November, about 25% of all garden-variety mutual funds were in international stocks, up from about 8.6% in 2000. Advisers have been doing their jobs.

    Israelsen is one of those advisers, and his 01-15 data do look compelling. But who do you know (and who here?) who would want the same small amount in US LC as in REIT, cash, commodities, or NR?
    Much less stick with it.
    Not I.
    And his is really an arg for very broad diversification, not for foreign, which is 17% of total (and note that that total = 93% of egg) and half of that foreign is EM.
    (Trying to think what EM, NR, and commod vehicles there were in 2001.)
  • Jack Bogle Interview on Index Funds and the bleak future for Active Managers
    Vanguard founder John BogleVanguard founder John Bogle.Vanguard:
    "These active managers have a real business problem. They are losing money. Vanguard accounts for over 100% of the cash flow in the industry (since 2014). One firm. All the other firms in the industry together are losing money, losing cash flow. Of course they don't like it. I understand that. But it was never my design to build a colossus.
    I'm a small-company guy, but I happen to have two great ideas. One is a mutual company, which is focused not on the management company shareholder but on the fund shareholder. That's the structural thing we bring to the table. And the strategic thing we brought to the table was the index fund. We created the first index fund, and it took 20 years before it started to catch on in, the mid-1990s, and now it’s dominating everything we say in this financial field, and it's changing it forever."
    Business Insider Link to Interview:
    businessinsider.com/vanguard-jack-bogle-401k-active-management-index-investing-2017-1
  • Janus International Equity Fund to liquidate
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277751/000119312517020127/d336634d497.htm
    497 1 d336634d497.htm 497
    Janus Investment Fund
    Janus International Equity Fund
    Supplement dated January 27, 2017
    to Currently Effective Prospectuses
    The Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”) of Janus Investment Fund has approved a plan to liquidate and terminate Janus International Equity Fund (the “Fund”) with such liquidation effective on or about March 30, 2017 or at such other time as may be authorized by the Trustees (“Liquidation Date”). Termination of the Fund is expected to occur as soon as practicable following liquidation.
    Effective at the close of business February 3, 2017, the Fund will no longer accept investments by new shareholders. The Fund may be required to make a distribution of any income and/or capital gains of the Fund in connection with its liquidation.
    Shareholders of the Fund may redeem their shares or exchange their shares for shares of another Janus fund which they are eligible to purchase at any time prior to the Liquidation Date. Effective at the close of business February 3, 2017, any applicable contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) charged by the Fund will be waived for redemptions or exchanges through the Liquidation Date. Exchanges by Class A shareholders into Class A Shares of another Janus fund are not subject to any applicable initial sales charge. For shareholders holding shares through an intermediary, check with your intermediary regarding other Janus funds and share classes offered through your intermediary.
    If a shareholder has not redeemed their shares as of the Liquidation Date, the shareholder’s account will be automatically redeemed and proceeds will be sent to the shareholder of record. For shareholders of Class D Shares investing in a tax-deferred account, the shares will be placed in Janus Government Money Market Fund.
    To prepare for the closing and liquidation of the Fund, the Fund’s portfolio managers may increase the Fund’s assets held in cash and similar instruments in order to pay for Fund expenses and meet redemption requests. As a result, the Fund may deviate from its stated investment strategies and policies and accordingly cease being managed to meet its investment objective during the liquidation of the Fund.
    Additionally, any asset reductions and increase in cash and similar instruments could adversely affect the Fund’s short-term performance prior to the Liquidation Date. The Fund will incur transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when selling portfolio securities as a result of its plan to liquidate and terminate. These transaction costs may adversely affect performance.
    The redemption or exchange of shares held by a shareholder will generally be considered a taxable event. A shareholder should consult their personal tax adviser concerning their particular tax situation.
    A shareholder may obtain additional information by calling their plan sponsor, broker-dealer, or financial institution, or by contacting a Janus representative at 1-877-335-2687 (or 1-800-525-3713 if you hold shares directly with Janus Capital). ...
  • Chaz De Vaulx on WealthTrack
    Bing is your friend. He has been around for a long time but is not a household name on the financial media.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Vaulx
  • Lewis Braham: Vanguard's Climate-Change Dismissal
    @MSF For the most part you're right. They both should be ashamed at this point, although in my piece I stated that BlackRock has long voted against such proposals. What's moved the needle is BlackRock's messaging about anthropogenic climate change having a material impact on companies' financial prospects. Vanguard hasn't even gone that far on its web site, claiming environmental proposals are social issues that have nothing to do with its fiduciary duty to shareholders. BlackRock has some other albeit small differences with Vanguard. If you examine BlackRock's ESG and socially responsible funds and ETFs you will see that their voting record differs from BlackRock's other funds, and they do in fact vote in favor of some environmental proposals. The really galling thing about Vanguard is even in its socially responsible fund--Vanguard FTSE Social Index VFTSX--a fund where they know very well that its investors believe in the importance of climate change--it still votes against or abstains from all environmental proposals the last time I checked. That is shameful in my view. Vanguard has given environmentally conscious shareholders no real option. BlackRock at least offers such options that vote differently: https://ishares.com/us/literature/shareholder-letters/proxy-voting-policy-social-index-funds.pdf
    But both are still a long way from how a more boutique socially responsible fund shop addresses environmental issues. The fact that Larry Fink at BlackRock has acknowledged climate change as a financial issue with market impacts is an important wedge, though, for investors to say to index fund managers, how can you claim to be upholding your role as a fiduciary if you routinely vote against or abstain from voting on all of these proposals? This is especially so for index fund managers as they must buy and hold stocks in their index forever. They are the ultimate long-term shareholders, meaning that climate change as the ultimate long-term risk will definitely affect the financial prospects of their investments. Shareholders who care about these issues must keep holding their feet to the fire.
    I just found BlackRock's iShares voting records for individual ETFs on its site. They should make it easier to do this, but you can see if you look at the ESG themed ETFs they do in fact vote differently: vds.issproxy.com/SearchPage.php?CustomerID=228
    Here is a list of their socially-responsible ETFs: https://ishares.com/us/products/etf-product-list#!type=ishares&tab=overview&view=list&fst=50586
  • why you should be an indexed investor only
    Investment portfolio science is always evolving. There is a big push towards the low fee, indexing narrative as it is a huge profit center and the financial industry flocks to where the sales $ exist.
    The 21st century has afforded the investor and portfolio researcher alike, the benefit of the use of ETFs that focus on underlying academically based CAPM "factors" and other attributes. Implementing these products within a tactical framework can provide much more flexibility in the goal towards asset accumulation https://docs.google.com/document/d/14OG8dGZolcXg7WGy_vGFN1dTJq1TccfgKwK7x27HAAA/edit?usp=sharing.
    The additional innovation of "motif" investing allows users and investors to build managed portfolios that other retail investors can track and invest in; this without the staffing, SEC approval, advertising, legal, etc. involved with the launch of funds and maintenance of running a "brick and mortar" fund enterprise.
  • Recent Asset Class Performance — International Markets Bounce
    FYI: Below is a look at the recent performance of various asset classes using key ETFs that we track on a daily basis. For each ETF, we show its performance year-to-date, since the Fed hiked rates on December 14th, and since the close on Election Day 2016 (11/8/16).
    Most US equity ETFs (left side of matrix) are up between 0-2% so far year-to-date, but the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) has been a standout to the upside with a 2017 gain of 3.95%. The Dow 30 (DIA) has lagged with a gain of just 0.60%. Looking at sectors, Consumer Discretionary (XLY) and Telecom (IYZ) are up the most YTD, while Energy (XLE) and Consumer Staples (XLP) are down the most.
    Since the Fed hiked rates in mid-December, the Energy sector is the only area of the US market that has felt any kind of pain (-2.48%), while Consumer Staples is down less than 1%. Since the election, the Financial (XLF) and Telecom (IYZ) sectors are the only ones up more than 10%.
    Outside of the US, many countries have already posted nice gains in 2017. Brazil (EWZ) is up 7.8% YTD after posting a big gain in 2016 as well. Hong Kong (EWH) and Australia (EWA) are both up more than 5%, while Canada (EWC), China (ASHR), India (PIN), and Japan (EWJ) are all up more than 3%. Mexico (EWW) is the only country on our matrix that is down year-to-date, and that follows a very weak Q4 as well.
    Looking at commodities, gold (GLD) and silver (SLV) have both gotten off to good starts to 2017, while oil (USO) and natural gas (UNG) are in the red. Treasury ETFs are up both YTD and since the Fed hiked rates, but they’re all still down since the election.
    Regards,
    Ted
    https://www.bespokepremium.com/think-big-blog/recent-asset-class-performance-international-markets-bounce/
  • Global Valuations
    On the topic, I'd recommend the Hyman-McLennan interview about international markets/economies that's current on WealthTrack.
    Mc made the point that foreign equities (he was mainly talking developed, as I understood it) look cheaper than the U.S., but that the valuation differential is almost entirely in the financial sector. Both still think the U.S. is the best value, for now. When asked the "one investment" question about foreign markets, both brought up Japan. (Hyman's recommendation came with currency hedging).
  • Towle Deep Value Fund to close to third party intermediaries
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1318342/000139834417000539/fp0023990_497.htm
    497 1 fp0023990_497.htm
    Towle Deep Value Fund
    (Ticker Symbol: TDVFX)
    A series of Investment Managers Series Trust (the “Trust)
    Supplement dated January 13, 2017 to the
    Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and Summary Prospectus, dated February 1, 2016.
    IMPORTANT NOTICE ON PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
    Effective as of the close of business on January 27, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Towle Deep Value Fund (the “Fund”) will be publicly offered on a limited basis.
    After the Closing Date, only certain investors will be eligible to purchase shares of the Fund, as described below (the “closure policy”). In addition, both before and after the Closing Date, the Fund may from time to time, in its sole discretion based on the Fund’s net asset levels and other factors, limit the types of investors permitted to open new accounts, limit new purchases into the Fund or otherwise modify the closure policy at any time on a case-by-case basis.
    The following groups will be permitted to continue to purchase Fund shares after the Closing Date:
    1. Shareholders of record of the Fund as of the Closing Date may continue to purchase additional shares in their existing Fund accounts either directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary and may continue to reinvest dividends or capital gains distributions from shares owned in the Fund.
    2. Existing registered investment advisor (RIA) and bank trust firms that have an investment allocation to the Fund in a fee-based, wrap or advisory account may continue to add new clients or purchase shares.
    3. New shareholders may open Fund accounts and purchase shares directly from the Fund (i.e. not through a financial intermediary).
    4. Certain financial intermediaries may continue to open new underlying customer accounts provided the platform on which they offer access to the Fund has an existing funded position.
    5. Group employer benefit plans, including 401(k), 403(b), 457 plans, and health savings account programs (and their successor, related and affiliated plans), which make the Fund available to participants on or before the Closing Date, may continue to open accounts for new participants in the Fund and purchase additional shares in existing participant accounts. New group employer benefit plans, including 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans, and health savings account programs (and their successor, related and affiliated plans), may also establish new accounts with the Fund, provided the new plans have approved and selected the Fund as an investment option by the Closing Date and the plan has also been accepted for investment by the Fund by the Closing Date.
    6. Members of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, persons affiliated with the Advisor and their immediate families will be able to purchase shares of the Fund and establish new accounts.
    In general, the Fund will rely on a financial intermediary to prevent a new account from being opened within an omnibus account established at that financial intermediary if the account would not otherwise satisfy the conditions outlined above. The Fund’s ability to monitor new accounts that are opened through omnibus accounts or other nominee accounts is limited and the ability to limit a new account to those that meet the above criteria with respect to financial intermediaries may vary depending upon the capabilities of those financial intermediaries. Investors may be asked to verify that they meet one of the exceptions above prior to opening a new account in the Fund. The Fund may permit you to open a new account if the Fund reasonably believes that you are eligible. The Fund also may decline to permit you to open a new account if the Fund believes that doing so would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, even if you would be eligible to open a new account under these exceptions. If all shares of the Fund in an existing account are redeemed, the shareholder’s account will be closed. Such former shareholders will not be able to buy additional shares of the Fund or reopen their account.
    Please file this Supplement with your records.
  • muni 2017 outlook
    Week Ending January 6, 2017 © 2016 Payden & Rygel All rights reserved.
    Highlights of the Week:
    Municipals: The municipal market continued to see heavy mutual fund outflows over the holiday period; however, municipal/Treasury ratios actually rallied, and the market delivered strong positive performance for the month of December. With limited supply and strong demand in the new year, we expect the “January effect” to provide support for municipals in the coming weeks.
    Corporates: Corporates started the year with a bang with heavy issuance right out of the gate. Total new issuance for the week was $53 billion,
    well above the $20-$25 billion anticipated for the week and reflective of strong sentiment among issuers. Last year was the heaviest year of
    issuance ever, but 2017 is forecast to decline by 5-10% by many analysts.
    High Yield: In recent years, high yield issuers have taken advantage of low rates to refinance their balance sheets. As a result, only 2% of the high yield universe will mature in 2017. Headed into the new year, we believe this financial cushion will provide a measure of security for the asset class.
    Treasuries The 5/30 yield curve remained flatter and close to the lows of the past 12 months at 107 bps. Two rate hikes are currently 100% priced in for 2017, with the Fed’s “median dot” signaling three hikes.
    © 2016 Payden & Rygel All rights reserved.
    https://www.payden.com/weekly/wir010617.pdf
  • Consuelo Mack's Wealth Track : Guests: Ed Hyman & Matthew McLennan
    FYI: In an exclusive interview, Ed Hyman, Wall Street’s # 1 ranked economist for a record 36 years describes how much the financial world has changed in the last year. He and top investor, Matthew McLennan describe what it means for the U.S. economy and markets.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://wealthtrack.com/u-s-growth-acceleratingu-s-recession-years-away-exclusive-outlook-from-wall-streets-1-economist-ed-hyman/
  • M*: Lower-Cost T Shares Coming To A Fund Near You
    FYI: T shares won't immediately revolutionize the financial-advisory industry but will ultimately be a positive for investors.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=787395
  • Consuelo Mack's Wealth Track Preview: Guests: Ed Hyman & Matthew McLennan
    FYI: I will link episode as soon as it becomes available for free, early Saturday morning.
    Regards,
    Ted
    January 5th, 2017
    Dear WEALTHTRACK Subscriber,
    Ed Hyman is cautiously predicting that the U.S. economy will grow a little bit faster this year and bring inflation and interest rates up along with it. As for the likelihood of recession, he believes it is several years away. This week, in what has become an annual WEALTHTRACK tradition, Hyman joins us for an exclusive two-part interview on the outlook for the global economy.
    The founder and Chairman of Evercore ISI is a financial super star, having been voted Wall Street’s number one economist for 36 out of the past 37 years. His research is a daily must read for institutional investors all over the country if not the world.
    Every year on WEALTHTRACK we also ask a top investment pro to join Ed, to put his macroeconomic outlook into investment perspective. This year another WEALTHTRACK regular, First Eagle Management’s Matthew McLennan is joining us.
    McLennan is Head of the Global Value Team at First Eagle Investment Management, where he is also a portfolio manager for several funds, including the flagship First Eagle Global Value fund, which he took over from legendary value investor, Jean Marie Eveillard in 2008.
    Rated Five Star by Morningstar, the Global fund is in the top decile or higher in its World Allocation category for the past one, three, five and ten year periods and is known for its above average risk adjusted returns.
    This week our primary focus will be the outlook for the U.S. economy and markets. Next week we will concentrate more on international conditions, although we recognize they are all interrelated.
    Hyman’s team expects the U.S. economy to pick up steam this year, forecasting real GDP- that’s excluding inflation- of 2.5% in 2017 versus an estimated 2% in 2016. They expect inflation to pick up as well, with the Fed’s favored GDP deflator measure rising from 1.5% last year to 2.5%. As for the Fed Funds Rate, they are looking for a sizable increase from around 0.60% to 1.35% by year-end.
    The yield on the benchmark ten-year Treasury should rise half a percentage point from 2.5% in December to 3% by December of this year. And finally they expect profits to improve, estimating that the combined earnings per share of the S&P 500 companies will rise about 10% year over year.
    Hyman is the first to admit that a lot can change between now and year-end, but eight years into an economic recovery he lists the mounting evidence of improvement, including his expanding list of American cities where business in booming.
    If you miss the show on air this week, you can always catch it on our website. You can also view it on our YouTube channel.
    As always, we welcome your feedback on Facebook, Twitter or via the Contact Us link on our website. We read all of your comments!
    Have a great weekend and make the week ahead a profitable and productive one!
    Best Regards,
    Consuelo
    Ed Hyman Video Clip:

  • GQG Partners Emerging Markets (GQGPX) - thoughts?

    Scott Blankenship, who is responsible for the firm’s sales and distribution of products offered through financial intermediaries, says that the fund will be available at all major brokerages but that "will take weeks and maybe months." Schwab might be first in line, he said. The fund is registered in all 50 states. GQG has no documents available on its site as of yet for downloading account applications or related forms, but you can receive them through their distributor SEI by calling 866-362-8333 and have them emailed if you want to buy the fund directly from them. Best.
  • Blind Forecasters
    Hi Guys,
    I am an engineer by temperament, training, and experience. I like smart folks, especially those that develop sophisticated investment prediction models. In his "The Money Game" book, Adam Smith concurs that an investor should seek advice from smart people. Of course, one issue is how to identify smart market participants.
    One might suspect that carefully trained economists, who are hired by financial organizations, would nicely fit that framework. Maybe, but it's not that easy.
    In the early 1990s I counted Elaine Garzarelli as one such market-wise forecasting hero. She had an elaborate macroeconomic computer model that accurately forecasted the 1987 equity meltdown. Since that famous forecast, her record has suffered somewhat. According to one scorecard, she is correct about one-third of the time. Anyone for a fair coin toss projection?
    Equity returns forecasts for 2017 are presently dominating the media and investor exchanges. It's great sport, but it is highly likely that the projections are in serious error. The record, even for the most well informed cohort of professionals, is dismal. How dismal? Here is a Link to some research that was completed a year ago:
    http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/02/25/the-blind-forecaster.aspx
    The findings are consistent with similar studies. Predicting returns is a challenging assignment, and most fail the task. A blind forecaster just might equal the accuracy of these highly paid experts. The author claims that emotional factors control the outcome, and these are impossible to forecast. I guess that means we should all keep a heavy reserve to protect against the uncertainty of the markets, regardless of professional opinion.
    Best Regards.
  • Art Cashin: " Waiting On Trump's Tax Policy"
    Bezos Got the Message Before the Tweet ?
    DEALS | Wed Jan 4, 2017 | 4:43pm EST
    Exclusive: Amazon, Forever 21 vying for bankrupt American Apparel - sources
    Reuters sources interest out of Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Forever 21 and others ahead of a deadline to submit offers for the bankrupt Los Angeles-based company set for this Friday.
    http://seekingalpha.com/news/3233531-reuters-amazon-among-possible-american-apparel-bidders
    By Jessica DiNapoli and Lauren Hirsch REUTERS
    The bankruptcy auction of Los Angeles-based American Apparel, which made its branding theme "Made in the U.S.A", will determine the future of a major clothing manufacturing plant in California, one of the most expensive U.S. states in terms of labor costs.
    Keeping jobs in the United States has become a hot button political issue since the presidential election. Ford Motor Co on Tuesday reversed plans for a $1.6 billion factory in Mexico and said it would add 700 jobs in Michigan after receiving criticism from President-elect Donald Trump.
    Amazon and Forever 21, as well as California-based apparel maker Next Level Apparel and brand licensor Authentic Brands Group LLC, are in talks with American Apparel and its financial advisers about submitting offers ahead of a deadline on Friday, the people said
    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-americanapparel-m-a-idUSKBN14O281
  • A Good Year and a Dire Forecast
    Hi Ron,
    I agree that forecasting is folly and the trend is your friend. Trivial sayings but true nevertheless.
    As J. Paul Getty said: "Bank on the trends and don't worry about the tremors". Getty is not a bad choice when accepting financial advice.
    But it's not clear when a trend becomes a broken trend that demands some action. There are plenty of sources offering advice in that arena. Here is one such source:
    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/active-trading/041814/four-most-commonlyused-indicators-trend-trading.asp
    This is just one of many Links that summarize a host of candidate trading signals. I post it only as an example. I don't subscribe to any of them. I am basically a buy and hold investor, and typically make only 2 or 3 trades each year. These days they are coupled to my required mandatory withdrawals that are age related.
    Again quoting Getty: "The big profits go to the intelligent, careful, and patient investor, not to the reckless and over eager speculator". I at least qualify as a patient investor. I'm not so sure about the other qualifiers.
    Mark Twain wisely added this bit of wisdom: " There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford to and he can". But speculators help to make a market. More power to them.
    And more power to you regardless of your investing philosophy. Thanks for your input.
    Best Wishes.
  • 2017 outlook - good but no longer great
    "They've already been great for years, as both stocks and bonds have delivered fat returns since the worst of the financial crisis passed in 2009. But after such a strong and long gallop upward, markets have many reasons to slow down, analysts and fund managers say."
  • Kiplinger: 105 Most Popular Funds For Your Retirement Savings
    FYI: There's no denying the importance and popularity of 401(k)s for retirement savers. Americans have $4.8 trillion invested in these tax-deferred savings accounts, according to the Investment Company Institute, and there are 52 million active 401(k) participants. BrightScope, a financial-information company that rates retirement-savings plans, compiled this list for Kiplinger of the most popular mutual funds in 401(k) plans based on funds' 401(k) assets under management.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.kiplinger.com/article/investing/T047-C009-S003-105-most-popular-funds-for-your-retirement-savings.html