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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.
  • Fed Prepares to Skip June Rate Rise but Hike Later
    FED will assessing more data on the economy (and that is appropriate given the slowing economy). WSJ is behind a paywall.
    https://wsj.com/articles/fed-official-says-rate-pause-doesnt-signal-end-to-hikes-758041e5
    Also CME Fedwatch has lowered rate hike probability from 66% to 25%. The next FOMC meeting is on June 13-14.
    https://cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html
  • Done Deal !
    More information.
    https://fidelity.com/news/article/top-news/202306010621RTRSNEWSCOMBINED_KBN2XN2NI-OUSBS_1?print=true
    The moderates on both sides came together to advance the bill.
    https://fidelity.com/news/article/top-news/202306010621RTRSNEWSCOMBINED_KBN2XN2NI-OUSBS_1?print=true
    Futures market this morning is nearly flat as the bill moves to the senate and to President Biden. S&P500, +0.2%, DJIA, -0.18%, NASDAZ, -0.12%.
    https://finviz.com/futures.ashx
  • AAII Sentiment Survey, 5/31/23
    AAII Sentiment Survey, 5/31/23
    For the week ending on 5/31/23, bearish remained the top sentiment (36.8%; above average) & bullish remained the bottom sentiment (29.1%; below average); neutral remained the middle sentiment (34.1%; above average); Bull-Bear Spread was -7.7% (below average). Investor concerns: Inflation (moderating but high); economy; the Fed; dollar; crypto regulations; market volatility (VIX, VXN, MOVE); Russia-Ukraine war (66+ weeks, 2/24/22- ); geopolitical. For the Survey week (Th-Wed), stocks were up, bonds up, oil down sharply, gold up, dollar up. The debt-ceiling cleared the (critical) House; the Senate & WH approvals should follow soon. #AAII #Sentiment #Markets
    https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/post/1051/thread
  • Vanguard Customer Service
    Finra fines Vanguard $800,000 for misleading information on money market accounts
    "The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. found that from November 2019 to September 2020, Vanguard Marketing Corp. miscalculated the estimated annual yield and annual income for nine money market funds on approximately 8.5 million account statements, according to the Finra order posted Thursday."
    "The firm failed to update the yield data due to 'a technical issue where newer information received through an automated data feed did not overwrite certain existing data,' which led to the yield and income projections being overstated."
    "From October 2019 to March 2021, the firm received communications from 100 customers who pointed out miscalculations and other errors on their statements. It failed to investigate promptly, Finra said, but did correct the statements after finally looking into the problems."
    Link
  • Delaware Ivy Emerging Markets Local Currency Debt Fund will be liquidated
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/883622/000113743923000756/ivyemmkt052023497.htm
    IVY FUNDS
    Delaware Ivy Emerging Markets Local Currency Debt Fund (the “Fund”)
    Supplement to the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and Statutory Prospectus
    each dated January 30, 2023, as amended
    On May 24, 2023, the Board of Trustees of Ivy Funds unanimously voted to approve a proposal to liquidate and dissolve the Fund. The liquidation and dissolution are expected to take effect on or about August 31, 2023 (“Liquidation Date”). Retirement accounts held directly on the transfer agency platform within the Fund will be liquidated on or about the Liquidation Date and the proceeds (less mandatory tax withholding) will be mailed to the address of record if no action is taken.
    Shortly before the Liquidation Date, the Fund may convert to cash and cash equivalent positions as a temporary defensive measure to preserve value. After the Fund is converted to cash, it may not achieve its investment objective. For Fund accounts with automated purchases, exchanges, and/or withdrawals established, these transactions will cease prior to liquidation if no action is taken.
    The Fund will be closed to new investors and all sales efforts will cease as of the date of this Supplement. However, the Fund will continue to accept purchases from existing shareholders (including reinvested dividends or capital gains) until five (5) business days before the Liquidation Date.
    Until the Liquidation Date, shareholders of the Fund will have the opportunity to exchange their shares for shares of the same class of any other Delaware Funds by Macquarie® fund. Any exchange would be made at the current net asset values of the Fund and the selected Delaware Fund. Shareholders may redeem their Fund shares at any time prior to the Liquidation Date. No applicable contingent deferred sales charge will be assessed in connection with any redemption of shares from the Fund prior to the Liquidation Date.
    Effective the date of this Supplement, the following is inserted before the first paragraph in the section of the prospectus entitled “Fund summaries – Delaware Ivy Emerging Markets Local Currency Debt Fund – Purchase and redemption of Fund shares”:
    The Fund is liquidating and is therefore closed to new investors. Existing shareholders of the Fund may continue to purchase shares until five (5) business days before August 31, 2023.
    Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Fund or acting on a distribution check (if applicable).
    Delaware Management Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited (MGL). None of the entities noted in this document is an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia) and the obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (Macquarie Bank). Macquarie Bank does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities. In addition, if this document relates to an investment (a) each investor is subject to investment risk including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and principal invested and (b) none of Macquarie Bank or any other Macquarie Group company guarantees any particular rate of return on or the performance of the investment, nor do they guarantee repayment of capital in respect of the investment.
    Please keep this Supplement for future reference.
    This Supplement is dated May 31, 2023.
  • Stable-Value (SV) Rates, 6/1/23
    Stable-Value (SV) Rates, 6/1/23
    TIAA Traditional Annuity (Accumulation) Rates
    No changes
    Restricted RC 6.50%, RA 6.25%
    Flexible RCP 5.75%, SRA 5.50%, Newer IRAs 5.20%
    TSP G Fund hasn't updated yet (previous monthly rate was 3.625%).
    Options outside of workplace retirement plans include m-mkt funds, bank m-mkt accounts (FDIC insured), T-Bills, short-term brokered CDs.
    #401k #403b #StableValue #TIAA #TSP
    https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/post/1050/thread
  • T-Bills, 3-Day, June 2-5, 2023
    Well supposedly Treasury 'only' had like $45B on-hand the other day, so they probably need all the cash they can get to meet daily outflows/payments.
  • T-Bills, 3-Day, June 2-5, 2023
    A "cash management" bill offering: yup, to put it mildly. Treasury must need the $25B to bridge to the June 5 x-day.
    It's been added to the TD Upcoming Auctions page.
    Treasury may need more accounting employees before the next debt ceiling fiasco.
  • T-Bills, 3-Day, June 2-5, 2023
    This isn't a joke.
    Treasury is offering 3-day T-Bills with Auction on June 1, issue/settle June 2, maturity June 5 (drop-dead date for debt-ceiling).
    https://www.treasurydirect.gov/instit/annceresult/press/preanre/2023/A_20230531_1.pdf
  • What happened to CCOR?
    As of March 2023:
    SPX Apr3 4035.0P 0.09%
    SPX Apr3 3995.0P 0.03%
    SPX Apr3 4000.0P 0.00%
    SPX Apr3 3870.0P 0.00%
    SPX Mar3 3905. OP 0.00%
    SPY Mar3 4010 OP 0 00%
  • What happened to CCOR?
    As of Feb 2023:
    SPX MAR3 3995.0P 0.48%
    SPX MAR3 3970.0P 0.41%
    SPX FEB3 3990.0P 0.20%
    SPX MAR3 3920.0P 0.14%
    SPX FEB3 3970.0P 0.00%
  • What happened to CCOR?
    As of Jan 2023:
    SPX FEB3 4030.0P 0.28%
    SPX FEB3 4015.0P 0.24%
    SPX FEB3 3950.0P 0.11%
    SPX FEB3 3960.0P 0.10%
    SPX FEB3 3925.0P 0.04%
  • What happened to CCOR?
    These are some of the options that hurt CCOR and the weights as of April 2023
    SPX Mav3 4070.0P 0.25% Cash Options
    SPX Mav3 4065.OP 0.06% Cash Options
    SPX Mav3 4125.OP 0.05% Cash Options
    SPX Mav3 4100.0P 0.01% Cash Options
    SPX Apr3 4050.0P 0.00% Cash Options
  • TDA to Schwab Transfers
    Make sure you're looking at the summary and not the existing account (which didn't change). The new accounts should show up there, I believe. I couldn't find the originally either
    Btw, for those involved, if you had the $15 trading fees originally from ThinkOrSwim, I was assured that they would carry over onto the Schwab platform. I can't verify that just yet, but something to watch for/
  • ORK? WTF. Transaction, TRP. (Got an answer.)
    A couple of dividends showed up on 31 May. One was the domestic Postal REIT. PSTL. As instructed, TRP reinvested the dividend to buy more shares. Smooth and transparent.
    On the NHYDY dividend, I'm left to worry and guess at what they did. NHYDY = Norsk Hydro ADR. First thing I see is the amount of the dividend. $145.56. NEXT, I see the FIVE PERCENT fee that was taken from that amount: $7.28. (foreign company.) Then I looked to confirm that the remainder of $138.28 was reinvested. But only $101.89 was reinvested. Where did these doinks hide or lose or steal the rest of it? $36.39 is just plain missing.
    This licks pus, I tell you.
  • Is Berkshire more like a Mutual Fund than a stock?
    Several past posts:
    1) "MSF describes it—blend—a blue chip stock with its heady growth days in the past.
    "Agree with msf and Lewis assessment. The fast growing business (iPhones, computers, music, and AppleTV) since Steve Jobs's returned has plateaued. In some area Apple is trailing."
    2) "Growth is about revenues, cash flow and earnings versus the benchmark and industry peers and it’s forward looking, not from five or ten years ago."
    FD: Reality check, after close to 3 years, Apple proved to be MORE THAN JUST A BLEND BLUE CHIP
    One year performance......AAPL +12.3....VFINX -6.6%......JPM -23.7%
    Three year performance...AAPL +49.65...VFINX +14.9%...JPM +6.1%
    In just 3 years AAPL made 174% more than VFINX(SP500)....221.8 vs 47.8%...see (chart)
    Checking again, several posters claimed that Apple is just another blue chip + its heady growth days in the past.
    Apple still beat SPY for 1,3,5,10,15 years. See the chart for one year (https://schrts.co/FgWjnDmE) Apple made 4+ times more.
  • Vanguard US Growth & Growth and Income - Subadvisor Change
    If Vanguard hires a single subadvisor for, say, 0.50%, and that subadvisor has its own branded funds that it charges 1% for, what is the motivation for investors to buy any of the subadvisor's higher-cost branded funds? A single sub-advisor Vanguard fund runs the risk of cannibalizing that sub-advisor's external business. ...
    Wellington and Primecap are interesting exceptions, but then Primecap only opened its branded funds when Vanguard closed its Primecap subadvised ones to new investors, so there was less risk of cannibalization. Meanwhile, Wellington has been with Vanguard since its founding, and the relationship there is a unique and enduring one.

    Does Wellington have its own branded funds? It doesn't seem to fit this pattern.
    Primecap (VPMCX) opened and closed at various times. If Primecap was waiting until the Vanguard funds closed, it looks like the third time was the charm.
    In 1994, its minimum was $3,000 (or $10,000; the prospectus is gives both figures). March 7, 1995, Vanguard closed the fund and limited additional investments to $25K/year. On Jan 1, 1996, Vanguard unambiguously reduced the minimum to $3K, were fund were to reopen. On Oct 31, 1996, the fund did reopen. The fund was closed again on April 22, 1998, with a $25K/year limit on additional investments. On April 23, 2001, the fund once again reopened, but this time with a $25K minimum and a 1% redemption fee for shares redeemed within five years of purchase. Finally, several months after Vanguard closed the fund again on March 4, 2004, Primecap Odyssey launched its funds in November 2004.
    The initial management fee of 0.60% was slightly higher than the Vanguard management fee at the time of 0.48%. Though counterbalancing that relatively slight difference was the five year redemption fee that Vanguard imposed and Primecap Odyssey did not.
    An exception that may prove the rule is Vanguard Global Environmental Opportunities Fund (VEOIX). It began Nov 22, 2022, a bit more than a year after the management firm, Ninety One, started it own fund, Global Environment Fund ZGEIX.
    Yogi may be right about a new company looking to grow AUM, even if it has to give up 20 basis points in fees. Though if that were its objective, Vanguard hasn't been too successful at that. Each fund has only about $40M AUM, and looking at the Vanguard fund, half of its AUM came at launch (seed money?).
  • The Case For International Diversification
    I noticed Vanguard is also projecting better returns from unhedged 'Ex-U.S. Developed' equities over the next decade ( https://www.morningstar.com/markets/markets-brief-why-vanguard-sees-brighter-outlook-investors-portfolios).
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