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.
Yesterday, the S&P 500 Index pulled back a little with a closing value of 2296.68 with the three best performing sectors being materials, financals and industrials. In checking the markets, as I write, this morning Asia-Pacific is mixed while most of Europe is down. In the States, in checking the futures both stocks and government bonds look to be down.
Update: Since my first posting stock are futures now pointing mixed as I write @9:20 AM.
Highlights of the Week: Treasuries: Treasuries traded with much uncertainty and caution in President Trump’s first week in of officeThe market probability for a rate hike at next week’s Fed meeting hovered at 22%. Corporates: Amid scrutiny and a shifting environment, attempts to consolidate the healthcare industry have been rapid but not assured. Johnson & Johnson to buy Actelion for $30 billion/ awaiting shareholder and regulatory approval. ....health insurance companies Aetna and Humana were rejected from merging by the Department of Justice. They will likely appeal and restructure to try to keep the deal together. Securitized Products: “Ford is the canary in the coal mine,” said Maryann Keller, an auto industry consultant citing the wave of used vehicles rolling off-lease that is expected to continue into 2018. If you are looking for a vehicle this weekend, think fuel-efficient cars, and not gas- guzzling trucks and SUVs. High YieldGiven expectations for a more forgiving regulatory environment under the new Presidential administration, we expect to see more high yield issuers like Charter targeted for M&A this year, a dynamic that will serve as a tailwind for the asset class. Municipals: Municipal funds realized a third consecutive week of inflows, drawing a modest $6.98mm over the past week. Performance continued to be resilient, with municipals outperforming a Treasury market drifting higher in yield. https://www.payden.com/weekly/wir012717.pdf And in this corner hailing from South Carolina and wearing the black boots is Nikki "knock em flat" Haley Bush: 'You Are Either With Us, Or With the Terrorists' - 2001-09-21 And Kickin Ass ? "For those that don't have our back, we're taking names, we will make points to respond to that accordingly," added President Donald Trump's U.N. envoy Nikki Haley making brief remarks to reporters as she arrived at the U.N. to present her credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. By Michelle Nichols | UNITED NATIONS The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, pledged on Friday to overhaul the world body and warned U.S. allies that if they do not support Washington, then she is "taking names" and will respond.
Can threatening other countries be good in the short or long run? Hard to tell the difference between Russians and Americans nowadays. I suppose all that was always spoken between cabinet members privately in the past, but gees. Open threats?
Anyway, Old_skeet and TSP_Transfer, thanks for the updates.
Perhaps, she wanted to keep the free lunch crowd form populating the state. Make it enticing for this class of citizen ... and, well pretty soon the state becomes heavily populated with them.
I do not currently reside in South Carolina full time; however, I have maintain a second residence for the past thirty one years in the state; and, I am thinking of making South Carolina my home state as many of my friends have done since retirement.
From my perspectives, Nikki Haley was indeed a good, and well respected, Governor.
And, in South Carolina ... It's was the Queen's Law. I expect, at least, for the next four years its going to be Trump's Law. And, she seems, to me, to be a woman on a mission wearing boots.
South Carolina is a beautiful state, particularly the coastal areas. Charleston is my favorite city on the east coast. And if my portfolio would cooperate, I'd love to spend more time on Kiawah.
More lolz from you --- who (other than you know who) would lie about something so easily checked? I really should leave it to you to google and seriously instruct yourself. But wallethub has the data parsed every which way; wikipedia keeps up; and it all depends on medicare and more, and on exactly what one means in the ratios. Here's one stark graphic, from a few years back: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/05/Slide3/966724856.jpg You better go see what pasha has to say about these imbalances, though.
davidmoran, I'm little slow. Does your graphic mean SC gets almost $8 in federal money for every $1 they pay in taxes? Not sure how to read your chart.
I can not write as to what davidmoran's chart represents. However, in doing my own research here is what I found to be the ten states that receive the most in Federal aid. South Carolina is not one of them. So, perhaps davidmoran's chart represts the order of the best run states or those that receive the least in federal aid in compairson to their own tax revenue? Don't now; but, it is for sure they are not in the top ten that receive Federal aid.
Sigh, Skeet, it is not my chart. You can track down the Atlantic article for yourself. Ah, someone did. And you can dive and wade through all of the wallet data. As can others. For sure it is NOT who receives the most federal aid --- reading comprehension, what a thing to conclude. The title of the chart says it all. It compares fed tax dollars paid with fed dollars received! For that year. Other years are different.
MikeM, you got it. The wikip entry has more data and other cites and sources.
>> represents the order of the best run states or those that receive the least in federal aid in comparison to their own tax revenue?
More lolz from you --- who (other than you know who) would lie about something so easily checked? I really should leave it to you to google and seriously instruct yourself. But wallethub has the data parsed every which way; wikipedia keeps up; and it all depends on medicare and more, and on exactly what one means in the ratios. Here's one stark graphic, from a few years back: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/05/Slide3/966724856.jpg You better go see what pasha has to say about these imbalances, though.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs my friend. Many of the money goes to African Americans who were the victims of institutionalized racism. Today this racism puts the imagined rights of non American over those of African Americans.
I thought that this, about Howe and Strauss, might interest you instead of Pasha. Big conflict every ~80y, and imminent now, perhaps, though hopefully not.
Comments
Treasuries: Treasuries traded with much uncertainty and caution in President Trump’s first week in of officeThe market probability for a rate hike at next week’s Fed meeting hovered at 22%.
Corporates: Amid scrutiny and a shifting environment, attempts to consolidate the healthcare industry have been rapid but not assured.
Johnson & Johnson to buy Actelion for $30 billion/ awaiting shareholder and regulatory approval. ....health insurance companies Aetna and Humana were rejected from merging by the Department of Justice. They will likely appeal and restructure to try to keep the deal together.
Securitized Products: “Ford is the canary in the coal mine,” said Maryann Keller, an auto industry consultant citing the wave of used vehicles rolling off-lease that is expected to continue into 2018. If you are looking for a vehicle this weekend, think fuel-efficient cars, and not gas- guzzling trucks and SUVs.
High YieldGiven expectations for a more forgiving regulatory environment under the new Presidential administration, we expect to see more high yield issuers like Charter targeted for M&A this year, a dynamic that will serve as a tailwind for the asset class.
Municipals: Municipal funds realized a third consecutive week of inflows, drawing a modest $6.98mm over the past week. Performance continued to be resilient, with municipals outperforming a Treasury market drifting higher in yield.
https://www.payden.com/weekly/wir012717.pdf
And in this corner hailing from South Carolina and wearing the black boots is Nikki "knock em flat" Haley
Bush: 'You Are Either With Us, Or With the Terrorists' - 2001-09-21
And Kickin Ass ?
"For those that don't have our back, we're taking names, we will make points to respond to that accordingly," added President Donald Trump's U.N. envoy Nikki Haley making brief remarks to reporters as she arrived at the U.N. to present her credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
By Michelle Nichols | UNITED NATIONS
The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, pledged on Friday to overhaul the world body and warned U.S. allies that if they do not support Washington, then she is "taking names" and will respond.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-un-idUSKBN15B1NG
Can threatening other countries be good in the short or long run? Hard to tell the difference between Russians and Americans nowadays. I suppose all that was always spoken between cabinet members privately in the past, but gees. Open threats?
Anyway, Old_skeet and TSP_Transfer, thanks for the updates.
As the saying goes ... South Carolina is governed (or was) by the Queen's law. As Governor, I believe, she was highly regarded by both aisles.
Old_Skeet
Uh. Gotta wonder:
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/jimmy-williams/2014/03/04/south-carolina-gov-nikki-haley-is-clueless-about-her-state
I am not to saying she did not have her critics.
Perhaps, she wanted to keep the free lunch crowd form populating the state. Make it enticing for this class of citizen ... and, well pretty soon the state becomes heavily populated with them.
I do not currently reside in South Carolina full time; however, I have maintain a second residence for the past thirty one years in the state; and, I am thinking of making South Carolina my home state as many of my friends have done since retirement.
From my perspectives, Nikki Haley was indeed a good, and well respected, Governor.
And, in South Carolina ... It's was the Queen's Law. I expect, at least, for the next four years its going to be Trump's Law. And, she seems, to me, to be a woman on a mission wearing boots.
Old_Skeet
Haha, you do know that the Palmetto state is like this huge moocher and taker, right?
Some years > $7 federal moneys in for every federal tax dollar paid.
Talk about free-lunch crowd. SC is a caricature of what all good rightwingers rail against.
I really should leave it to you to google and seriously instruct yourself.
But wallethub has the data parsed every which way; wikipedia keeps up; and it all depends on medicare and more, and on exactly what one means in the ratios.
Here's one stark graphic, from a few years back:
http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/05/Slide3/966724856.jpg
You better go see what pasha has to say about these imbalances, though.
I can not write as to what davidmoran's chart represents. However, in doing my own research here is what I found to be the ten states that receive the most in Federal aid. South Carolina is not one of them. So, perhaps davidmoran's chart represts the order of the best run states or those that receive the least in federal aid in compairson to their own tax revenue? Don't now; but, it is for sure they are not in the top ten that receive Federal aid.
https://www.google.com/search?noj=1&site=webhp&ei=12uOWMObIcrQmAHmgZWoBw&q=states+with+largest+federal&oq=states+with+largest+federal&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.12..41j0i22i30k1.8811.22244.0.31771.33.33.0.0.0.0.693.5702.2j27j2j1j0j1.33.0....0...1c.1.64.mobile-gws-serp..3.28.4358...0j0i13k1j0i8i7i30k1j0i8i30k1j30i10k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i21k1j33i160k1.kmRt6LZDIEA
This looks like the site David got his chart from.
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-most-least-dependent-on-the-federal-government/2700/#red-vs-blue
This is a pretty interesting site showing who receives most of the federal hand out. It probably changes every year, but SC is (only)14th on this list. appears red states get most of the federal hand-outs per capita. Very interesting.
Thanks for those links ... Indeed interesting!
Skeet
MikeM, you got it. The wikip entry has more data and other cites and sources.
>> represents the order of the best run states or those that receive the least in federal aid in comparison to their own tax revenue?
The laugh line of the evening.
This is old news, but still good reading:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/03/south-carolina-and-the-perils-of-single-party-governance/254288/
that's my final argument in support of South Carolina
I thought that this, about Howe and Strauss, might interest you instead of Pasha. Big conflict every ~80y, and imminent now, perhaps, though hopefully not.
http://time.com/4575780/stephen-bannon-fourth-turning/