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.
In my family we follow an equitable distribution of family expenses since my income is greater than the wife's. The wife has certain monthly expenses that she covers and the rest fall upon me. If things get to our of whack then I'll ask for some a…
As I change my portfolio's asset allocation more towards an "all weather" income & growth allocation I've been thinking of adding a preferred stock mutual fund to my hybrid income sleeve. The two retail funds that I currently have under review …
It was time for a bounce in the stock market as it was extremely oversold. I'm staying with my all weather asset allocation of 20% cash, 40% bonds and 40% equity. To me, this appears to be nothing more than a "Big Money" ploy ... run the market do…
Yep ... The FOMC killed my "want and desire" spending this year with their continued rate increase campaign which has dinged the stock market. I was thinking strongly of buying a new vehicle this year to repalce my 2006 Jeep Commander (which still …
As of market close of Dec 24th I have the S&P 500 off its 52 week high by 20%. By my math at a 2940.91 (high) - (minus) a 2351.1 (low) = (equals) 589.81 (product) / (divided by) 2940.91 (high) = (equals) a 20.05% decline. This puts the Index …
@hank: The barometer's scale has a range from a low of 105 to a high of 195 with a midpoint of 150. As the market continues to pullback as measured by the barometer's metrics the S&P 500 Index recorded a barometer reading of 195 on Friday inic…
@Derf: That is a good point you make about sectors. I've been watching industrials thinking that when they turn upward might be a good time to put some of the cash I've pulled aside back into equities.
Thanks for those expressing their views.
I have no further comment ... except to say I voted for better border security including wanting to see the wall built because I believe it to be a good idea. After all China has "The Great Wall of China.…
@MikeM: If there had been a better choice then I'd probally voted differently. Even today ... I'd still take Trump over Hillary. Perhaps, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren will step forward and run come election time. By the way I could not vote in…
Hi @Catch22: Yes, I know I've read a lot on this subject lately. Here is some more ...
"Although an instrument of the US Government, the Federal Reserve System considers itself "an independent central bank because its monetary policy decisions do…
My thoughts.
In view of our tif with China over import tariffs and unfair trade practices campaign directed by our President it's said from my perspective that the FOMC's Chief Wizard (Powell) continues to march to his rate increase campaign and ig…
@hank, I have moved away from posting weekly barometer readings and suggested that those who wanted a valuation tool use Moringstars Market Valuation Graph. But, when I get a request for my barometer's reading such as you just made I do not mind ma…
I've been raising cash over the past few years. Now, I'm thinking some equities are looking attractive. In review, I'm finding that the forward P/E Ratio for the S&P 500 Index is around 14.2 and I compute the TTM P/E Ratio (trailing twelve mon…
@Ted: Thanks again for making post about yet another fund (TIBAX) that Old_Skeet just happens to own. I enjoy reading these featured blurbs that you make post of. I have owned this fund for about fifteen years and I have found that it has achieved…
@Ted: Thanks for posting the article on Franklin Income Fund. It was nice to read about one of my holdings once again. At 70+ years in age myself the fund has been one of my holdings since my teenage years. It has also grown through the years to …
Let's go back and look at the efforts of the two prior FOMC chief wizards that being uncle Ben and aunt Janet. Now here come a new FOMC chief wizard and upsets the apple cart so to speak. And, yes we probally needed to raise rates and unwind the b…
In comparison, to Morningstar's valuation graph, Old_Skeet's market barometer has the S&P 500 Index at a reading of 180+ which marks it at extremely oversold on the barometer's scale by about 20%. For me to start buying equities at this point i…
@Derf ... Take a look at INUTX it is a domestic all equity fund much like SVAAX also with a dividend strategy. I do not put more than 5% of my portfolio in any one mutual fund. I am at this 5% cap in SVAAX so I'll soon be opening a position in INU…
For me to read I had to Goggle the article as the link provided is for readers with a Barrons' subscription.
The two people that I value their comments the most are Liz Ann Sonders and Jeffrey Saut. Ms. Sonders for her long term perspectives and M…
@derf: Thank you for your question. One of the all equity funds that I own which has good exposure to the sectors I referenced in my above post is SVAAX. In addition, it has a good yield at about 3.3%. I have owned this fund for a good number of…
Hello again,
Yes, I continue to fade the equity markets by reducing my exposure to equities and raising my exposure to cash and fixed income.
Now that December is here I am now starting to see a number of my mutual funds make capital gain distribu…
I'm getting pretty close to my target asset allocation of 20% cash, 40% bonds, and 40% stocks. Within stocks I'm overweighting the traditional defensive sectors plus a few others. My portfolio kicks off a pretty good income stream so I have electe…
@Catch22: Thanks for the link. In viewing and reading the details it says for stocks that dividends and distributions are included. I'm thinking this might not be so for mutual funds as I graphed FKINX which is a monthly distribution fund. It cha…
@Catch22: Thanks for your reply. However, I've most always found that StockCharts tracked only net asset values on mutual funds and not total return. I been looking for detail on this for sometime. Do you have any links that you might direct me t…
Hi @Catch22 & others: I checked behind you through Morningstar performance to get the total return for ABALX vs. BERIX and came away with difference results than what your net asset value graph persented. I believe it left out fund distributio…
@Crash: One of the best balanced funds that I own is by American Funds. Its ticker symbol is ABALX. One can get into this fund for as little as $250.00 plus it carries five stars form Morningstar. Perhaps the person you are helping will have enou…
My allocation to commdoities amounts to about 6% of the growth area of my portfolio. In viewing the futures this morning it looks as though my commodity strategy fund (PCLAX) might be up better than 2% today if things hold until market close.
I currently have an allocation of about 5% to emerging markets within my portfolio according to my last Instant Xray analysis. If I were to add to my emerging market weighting I think I would do it through purchase of American Funds Developing Worl…
As we start the week with most of the stock futures indicating a strong market opening this morning I noticed early this morning that there was a crescent moon rising. Looks to be a good day indeed for investors.
Hi @MikeW: I'm using a couple money market funds. They are Federated Prime Cash (PCOXX), Gabelli US Treasury (GBAXX) and Pimco Government (AMAXX). When I add a step to the cd ladder I'll simply draw from one of these money market funds to fund th…
Hi @johnN: Thanks for posting the article in which the author's choice is a two year treasury which currently has a yield of about 2.8%. For me, in the cash area of my portfolio, instead of the two year treasury I've done a four step money market …
Hello all.
For me my near term retruns are much like those that have shared their results. My bogey the lipper balanced index is fairing much like myself and what the others have stated.
Another bogey that I picked up to mark against is Franklin…
Barometer Week Ending Reading: Fair Value
For Friday November 30, 2018 Old_Skeet's market barometer which follows the S&P 500 Index closed the week with a reading of 152 which is down 5 points from last weeks close. With this, the barometer bas…
Read about the "Sell in May" strategy directly from Stock Trader Alamac.
After reading one can decide for themselves if the strategy might be for them.
I have used the strategy in the past and found that it worked, for me, more times than not. I …
I have in the past invested in both of these two funds (PASAX & PAUAX) and had dead money for a good number of years in them. Mr. Arnott has favored emerging markets ever since I can remember that they were an asset class of choice. And, when …
