@VintageFreak You can do some homework @ the link below.My largest holding.Often some deep value and thinly traded securities in portfolio.In times like '08-'09, value can get a lot deeper and if few want your IBM shares who's going to buy your Alanco Technologies, Inc. shares.Yes that was an extreme draw down for a M* moderate allocation fund but the long term performance is exceptional.Father/Son managed fund,Consider age and experience?
One of Ted's favorite links:
http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/mutual-fund/screener?FundType=0&FundValue=0&ReturnFundPeriod=11Management’s Discussion and Analysis REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS 1
BRUCE FUND, INC.
Annual Report
June 30, 2009 (
Bold added)
The Bruce Fund (the “Fund”) shares produced a total return of -24.31% for the six months ended December 31, 2008,
compared to a total return of -28.48% for the S&P
500 Index for the same period. The first six months of our fiscal year
were dismal.
While we thought we were prepared for the onslaught, we were wrong. Positions in low rated convertible
bonds dropped precipitiously with no support from interest payments. Likewise our common stocks were punished,
much worse than we anticipated. The U.S. Government bonds showed appreciation in the period and the cash balances
remained above normal.
The outlook for capital appreciation is muted. The economy could be weaker for much longer than most believe.
Preservation of capital is job one. Gains will be hard fought.
Bear markets do several things; they wash out inefficient companies and create values. There will come a time to be
more aggressive and we hope we will be ready. Management will continue to screen investment opportunities for their
capital appreciation potential and profile that against the risks the investment might present. Areas of recent interest
have been various bonds selling at discounts to par value offering reasonable yields. The bonds as well as the stocks in
the portfolio encompass significant investment risks, which are again outlined in the prospectus
Footnotes to some of BRUFX holdings
(a)
Non-cash income producing security.
(b)
In default.
(c)
Private Placement and restricted security under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.
(d)
Variable rate securities; the money market rate shown represents the rate at June 30, 2009.
(e)
This security is currently valued according to the fair value procedures approved by the Board of Directors.
(f)
This security has no expiration date, it will convert to common stock at a future date
http://www.thebrucefund.com/document-library.aspx
Gold Closing Out The Week At Five Year Lows Many things are at/near 5 year lows, including emerging-market equities (EEM), emerging-market debt in local-currencies (EMLC), most commodities (DBC), MLPs (MLPI). Looking at a 5-year chart, without doing anything else, and drawing inferences as to the investment merit of an asset is... foolhardy.
AU/USD, like most of the investment classes cited above are a function of the strength of the USD. --- I say this, because AU, while down in USD terms, is NOT down across all currencies. Its down vs. USD, GBP, SFR over 5 years. AU is also down vs CNY -- but then CNY's is (usually-) manipulated to track the USD. However AU is UP vs the CAD$, Yen, rand, rupee, AU$, ruble and MXP. AU is (essentially) flat vs. EUR.
The strength in the USD is itself a function not of American economic strength, but of our economy being the "cleanest dirty shirt", and of waning commodity demand from China. No one can foresee when these trends will reverse, but I suspect, they will reverse/mean-revert at some time. I suspect AU will still experience a "capitulation panic", however, generally assets are best bought when they are cheap, not dear. US equity enthusiasts should keep that in mind, as we are now in the 7th year of a very, VERY high-return equity bull. No tree grows to the sky.
AU can be first/foremost thought of as portfolio insurance -- providing diversification of returns over long periods of time. During the past 5 years, US equities have done wonderfully. So US equity investors were rewarded, while their AU holdings declined. OTOH, during the 2000-2010 period, equity returns languished/were lousy, but bullion holders were well rewarded.
For anyone dis-enchanted with their bullion holdings, I have a standing offer: contact me, and I will be happy to haul away any of your unwanted bullion, and I won't charge you a fee for the service, not a dime.