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.
As long as the ECB and BOJ are in QE mode, their currencies should continue decline relative to the USD, so I think currency hedging makes sense right now, but I closely follow currency trends. Even a favorite on this forum, FMIJX, has $250M dedicat…
Hi MikeW,
I would classify WGRNX as a definite sell. David Winters has always given interesting interviews, but despite the hype at the fund's inception ("2 without the 20" hedge fund comparison), WGRNX has never behaved like a hedge fund and has h…
@linter: LLJB was discussing KGGIX, which is a "diversified" global all-cap fund which is really liking materials and Russia, whereas GLFOX is a non-diversified infrastructure fund with 39% in utilities and 43% in industrials. So I wasn't sure if i…
@LLJB, in the global multi-cap space, I continue to like VMNVX/VMVFX, HCOYX, and if you are amenable to infrastructure, GLIFX/GLFOX. Of these funds, we own HCOYX and GLIFX. Actually, right here, right now, I like all of these funds much more than Ib…
@LLJB, I've been following Iben's new fund as well, and my test trades in my Fidelity retirement account have always shown that KGGAX has had a front-end load enforced (not LW) and that KGGIX has been available NL for a low minimum with a TF. And Fi…
According to a test trade I just made, RAIIX appears to have a $500 minimum with an initial TF in Fidelity retirement accounts. In the past I have been willing to pay an initial TF because I typically buy a good chunk at one time.
Hi UC,
Strabo handily beat his category averages while at American Century while managing TIDIX (4/4/1994-3/1/2002, Foreign Small/Mid Growth) and TGRIX (8/1/1993-2/28/2005). And so far so good at Ranier. So I think his new fund looks attractive.
…
Hi prinx,
My short list of attractive international funds include: FMIJX, HEDJ, DBEF, QUSOX, BISMX and OSMYX. As for biggest bounce, I would favor OSMYX.
Kevin
Hi Slick,
I use the free M* Portfolio Manager available at TRP, which allows monitoring of daily values and portfolio performance, and provides an x-ray of the portfolio. As for the M*reports, they are not worth my money, as I have more trust in th…
Redistribution of wealth has never worked, and will never help the poor escape poverty. And nobody -- whether liberal, independent or conservative -- is amenable to having the government forcibly redistribute their personal wealth to somebody with l…
@JohnChisum
Thanks for the heads up on SBIO. I have placed SBIO along with the recently launched BBP and BBC on my HC watch list. All of these ETFs are very young, and have inadequate daily trading volume by my standards. I see no reason to be an…
Hi Catch,
Of the funds that have been mentioned, I would probably go with XLE. Another fund to consider would be PXI which bounced very well off the March 2009 low. If you really believe in the energy sector and have either a stop-loss or stop-lim…
Hi expatsp,
The managers of CRUMX did a decent job running FLSIX 2007-2013, and have really capitalized by being overweight with munis. Here are two helpful articles:
http://dailyalts.com/top-nontraditional-bond-fund-celebrates-first-anniversary/
…
Pop Tart, if you are amenable to ETFs, I would also take a look at RPG and SCHG.
And a compelling case may be made to own a 50/50 mix of RPG and RPV as detailed HERE.
In our portfolio, we cover our domestic LC needs with a combination of VOO, P…
I work in HC and believe in the LT prospects of HC and Biotech as Americans require and will demand only the best treatments, and will pay up for the best treatments. Americans will not tolerate 3-6 month waits for a CABG, and they won't tolerate t…
Hi Pop Tart,
In the LCG space, I prefer POGRX, which continues to produce with a relatively low expense ratio. The Primecap team has produced awesome results over the years at their funds: VPCCX, VPMCX, POAGX, POSKX and POGRX. Unfortunately, only t…
Hi Catch,
For LT positions, I focus mainly on the overall average. For ST, speculative trades, I focus on the ST indicators.
Main concepts are to not fight the trend, and to have a clear, and predefined exit plan for speculative, ST positions.
…
Hi Skeet,
I follow the 20/50/100EMAs, and the charts for the following continue to be strong and I would not fight the trend: SPY, IJH, IWM, XLK, VHT, IBB, FBT, XLU and VNQ. Foreign developed and EM equities continue to lag, and I would avoid inves…
"Govtrack.us estimates that Meeks' bill has a
two percent chance of getting out of committee and a one
percent chance of actually becoming law."
Excellent news !!
We are currently invested in a 2/1 ratio in the TSP C (S&P 500) and S (VIEIX/F…
Rono, totally flashback !! Merry Christmas to you and your family, and thanks for all of your outstanding contributions over the years at FA and MFO !!
Kevin
At today's close, we are about 1% below the S&P 500 100EMA, and the current Fear & Greed Index is a bullish 18 ("Extreme Fear"). Right here, right now, I expect a move higher in domestic equities and currency-hedged foreign equities (DBEF, H…
BG and JG both have larger than life egos, and are vying to be the "King of Bonds." I really don't care who gives the better interviews, or who is more abrasive, or who the media loves more. All I care about is risk-adjusted performance. Although B…
@lord_nelson
Looking at the expense ratios, returns and risk parameters (standard deviations/sharpe ratios/sortino ratios), I would rank the currently open HC funds in the following order: PRHSX, JAGLX and ETAGX. Of these funds, JAGLX has the high…
Charles, yes I am tough, but I try my best to embrace reality. Mebane is a great guy, but I continue to think that he is throwing funds out there to see what sticks. I will continue to watch his funds, but I refuse to be an early buyer of any of his…
@bflotomny
Think football: Some running backs spend way too much time and energy juking, and move the ball in the east-west direction rather than the preferred north-south. The managers at Wellington have a very long track record of moving their i…
@JohnChisum
Thanks for the link to dailyalts.com. Looks interesting, and I have bookmarked this site.
Right here, right now, with domestic equities fully valued, developed foreign equities in a definite funk, and interest rates destined to increa…
@davidrmoran
I would not overthink this fund, as it continues to be above its 20/50/100EMAs. This fund is working and I would have no problem owning it until the charts break down.
Kevin
Hi Catch,
One might be tempted to concentrate a portfolio in one of the few advancing sectors, but maybe, just maybe, this might be a sign to exercise extreme caution, as the broad market is losing momentum. In our portfolio, we are seeking partia…
I see absolutely no reason to be an early buyer of this ETF. Why not track this ETF for a while, and see if assets grow, daily trading volumes increase and attractive performance develops ? Mebane Faber is smart and has noble intentions, but I have …
@linter
Looking at Standard Deviations/Sharpe Ratios over the past 1-, 3- and 5-year periods, PRHSX (14.28/2.21, 13.78/2.39, 15.31/1.78) clearly beats POAGX (15.15/1.15, 14.51/1.71, 17.42/1.31). So I think that either a 10%/5% mix of PRHSX/POAGX, o…
@JohnChisum
Thanks for this excellent white paper on alternatives. After tracking PQTIX for a while, I finally purchased a 10% position in this fund on 11/14/2014 in my TDAmeritrade retirement account, where there is no minimum + TF. PQTIX is also…
Hi David,
Although David Iben has been feeling the pain since launching KGGIX, I really liked his letters when he was at Nuveen Tradewinds, and he continues to write compelling, easy-to-read letters at Koppernik:
http://kopernikglobal.com/content/…
Hi JoJo,
Cresci did a very fine job at HLMRX, so JOSAX looks good to me. I would likely target JOSMX (ER 1.24 vs. 1.49 for JOSAX), which is apparently available in Fidelity retirement accounts for a $500 minimum + TF according to a test trade I ju…
@linter: Your combination provides the following exposure: 50% HC, 22% Tech, and 13% Industrials. You may want to consider an equal mix of PRHSX and POAGX, which would be my preference. But if you want a higher octane, then you may consider a mix o…
