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 the article points out, not all categories of bond funds have had outflows and not all categories of bond funds are negative for the year. As that wise sage Benton Davis pointed out long ago, "Stock (and bond) market success comes from following…
I've been with many brokerage firms in my time and what sticks out about Fidelity was the professionalism of just about every rep I ever spoke with there. Very well trained!! I didn't last long with them though because their fees for short term tr…
Reply to @MikeM: Thanks Mike and glad RYOIX has worked out well for you. I completely understand how monte carlo simulations and other number crunching endeavors can be valuable and worthwhile tools for many, but just not everyone, myself included…
>>>>I truly do not understand the reluctance of a few MFO participants to consider adding Monte Carlo methods to their financial toolbox. It is a powerful tool with unique capabilities and is specifically designed to address complex and …
Reply to @DavidV: David, yes, purely a tight rising channel momentum trade where I am using a 1.25% (actually more like 1.10) trailing stop from highs. That's because over the past 12 months the fund hasn't had that type of decline and such a decli…
I "think" I am retired or at least trying to be retired. Albeit, since my profession was that of a trader, primarily equity and bond mutual funds, you never actually retire. But very recently I have decided to concentrate only on bonds, bonds, a…
Caution and a dislike of bank loan funds has been a common thread on this board all year as they keep ticking higher and higher. I prefer to let the market dictate my actions and they are a huge part of my portfolio, albeit on a short lease of a 1.…
Ever since I learned the 2% redemption fee was abolished in October have been aggressively adding to HFRZX - #1 in its category YTD, one year, and three year. They are one of the few bank loan funds that has ventured into CLOs. Maybe playing with…
Reply to @Ted: In part because unlike about 99% here you tend to be more of a concentrated investor and don't hold 1001 funds. You also don't hold any groupthink funds. Congrats on the great year. Let's hope it's even better on 12/31/13.
Reply to @bee: CHY's 13% decline in May/June would steer me away. Prefer HFRZX which is this year's PONDX in that the past 12 months it has been one smooth ride up without a 1.2% decline. Yes, I know, 2008 was ugly, that is why you use a 1.2% exi…
According to your 11/8 post here you were already over 90% in cash. You sold out in 2008 because of a falling market and now you are selling because of the rising market.
It appears you were really scarred by the 2008/09 bear market and have never …
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1504562-target-maturity-etfs-shelter-bond-holdings-from-rising-rates
The link above is the list for all the ETFs from munis, to corporates, to high yield of the target rate maturity bond funds that hold until maturit…
I've been at this game for almost 50 years and never has anything benefited me more than QE. Ben served it up on a silver platter for investors and traders both small and large alike.
Tapering is completely dependent on the strength or weakness of upcoming economic data. Since some believe the economy is much stronger than most perceive, that would mean sooner than later. Since the market is a perverse animal, the next leg up i…
Thanks MJG. I have always been a firm believer in the luck factor when it comes to trading/investing. One of my five favorite books of all time is the Luck Factor by Max Gunther (not to be confused by a rip-off of the same title but different auth…
Investing principles? More like trading principles as Livermore was the most acclaimed speculator/trader of all time. Regardless a must read book that I have read over a dozen times and mentioned numerous times in my own book. Your 15 gems are sp…
Reply to @expatsp: Point well taken and it may have been even less adjusting for the monthly dividend. Still, the fund has never been tested in a junk bond bear market. Fortunately those are few and very far between and other than the 2008 variet…
Maybe a 4.35% yield but doubtful you will see that as a total return for the year. I sort of agree with David that this fund doesn't belong in the hiyield category and is best used as a cash management fund (I wish Charles would take heed) However…
ARIVX an absolute dog of a fund with terrible returns the past year compared to its peers. I know, I know, the academics say give a fund a few years before throwing it to the curb. That's hogwash! One year returns DO count and most especially in …
Some may believe there is a lot wrong with this country, albeit I sure wouldn't want to live anywhere else (ok, maybe Australia) But this being an investment forum there sure isn't anything wrong with this country's stock market with just about ev…
Hi Dex, will be interesting to see what the others here have to say. Junk bonds are seriously overbought albeit they can stay that way for a period of time. My concern is with just about all the major averages at all time highs if the inevitable …
Thanks Scott. I trade only stocks in tight rising channels (like yours and mine fave ABC) In energy/shale, Bakkan sector that would be EOG, KOG, TPLM, SN, LNG, CRZO, CLR, OAS, to name just a few. But besides being in a tight rising channel they m…
Reply to @Ted: Many thanks Ted, FRAK was what I was looking for as I thought there was a more pure play ETF. After checking it out I think I will just stay with individual equities in that arena. I am not much of an ETF guy anyway and FRAK is …
Reply to @Old_Joe: Old Joe, I may be a registered Republican (since the late 60s) but more of your "left coast persuasion" than you might imagine. For instance, I am a liberal on most social issues and an *extreme* ultra left wing radical on the …
I have NEVER said anything political in all my years on various forums. But this latest fiasco was too much. Just to vent my frustrations, I sent an e-mail to my two Senators - Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul - as well as the Speaker of the House an…
I don't want to jinx it but looking good so far as we are in positive territory. Nice call Ted. The conventional wisdom (and I hate conventional wisdom) is to add to positions when they are down over the debt/shutdown fears. I was hoping for a mu…
Not as bad as I thought, at least so far. Futures have been down around 100 since their opening. I believe the link below updates every few minutes or so and is delayed 10 minutes. If you get the Fox Business News station the futures are in real …
Reply to @Ted: I like your optimism and hope you are spot-on. Market has priced in a resolution the past two trading days so if none, it could be real ugly Monday. Albeit a great time to add to positions. Futures strong? We will know when they…
It was fun while it lasted but I think the bloom is off the high flyers in biotech ala ACAD, NPSP and others. But could be dead wrong. I am trying to transition into oil. Hold HAL, EOG, and looking to buy APC. Also hold ABC a real steady eddie …
Somebody is going to get a lot cheaper prices after today. Not sure if that is a good thing or not. Small and mid cap biotech stocks have been in freefall today with the largest declines in recent memory. Some might argue that is a portent of wha…
I had mentioned the other week I have a small position in ETGLX because it's second largest holding is my largest equity holding. I have added a few more small cap biotechs recently as it's beginning to look like a rerun of the late 90s in tech sto…
