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.
No disagreement here. The problem I anticipate is that you cannot easily separate the "wheat from the chaff". Can you expect farm workers to show up for work, when you are scooping their brethren up for incarceration and eventual deportation? When t…
"Meanwhile, two Iranian news agencies reported that two explosions were heard near the nation’s Fordo nuclear enrichment site, according to NBC News. That site is buried deep underground." - I guess we will see how those hardened underground facili…
...
The UN nuclear watchdog agency stated for the first time in two decades that Iran failed to comply
with its nonproliferation obligations...
The thing is that when the watchdogs said, during the first Trump administration. that Iran was complying…
Not sure there is much anyone CAN do. If his policies backfire and his own supporters are impacted badly enough, then maybe there is a re-thinking. For now, the dog caught the car, we will see what they accomplish, for better or worse.
They have C…
I've actually noticed a similar phenomenon with Pimco CEFs that I own. Like Yogi said, I never know if it is due to news about internal holdings, market gyrations in general, or if the drop in price triggered "value" buying.
For instance, how do y…
This explains the rise of oil prices, US used to import majority of oil from Canada. This helps to stabilize gas prices. Now that relationships no longer exists.
US is evacuating embassy family members from Iraq and several Middle East countries…
The WH trying so hard to distance itself was a red flag. Iran was never going to buy it. In all likelihood, the ME is going to deteriorate beyond Israel/Iran, with Iran ramping up terrorism.
Not sure what to think about Russia's overtures to relie…
Our entire immigration system is in shambles. After government cuts, it cannot be getting better. We have no effective system for bringing in needed workers, skilled or unskilled. Now we are halting the best and brightest from entering our universit…
The FEDs dual mandate is jobs and inflation. If both are good, why should Trump be insulting him over rates? Why should they lower? A direct answer will suffice.
No, we must accept that inflation happens immediately, despite all the folks with in-depth experience telling us that it doesn't' work that way. And we should simply believe that a +10% tax on all imports ($3.4 trillion) is not going to drive up pri…
Moron wanted a fast deal for GAZA and Ukraine too. How did those deals work out? His attention span is short except for destroying Democracy and seizing total power for himself. He sticks to those resolutely.
Let us not forget that Jared Kushner …
The elephant in the room is that U.S. "talks" have encourage Iran to step up enrichment, and Israel to consider unilateral attacks and Trump to consider military options. That went well!
If this were any other administration, one that were clever,…
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/12/here-are-the-three-reasons-why-tariffs-have-yet-to-drive-inflation-higher.html
At least three factors have conspired so far to keep inflation in check:
-Companies hoarding imported goods ahead of the April 2 tariff …
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/12/trump-wanted-an-iran-deal-fast-now-he-may-get-military-confrontation.html
The developments mark a stark shift after several rounds of mostly indirect U.S.-Iran talks that were previously described as “positive” and “…
Trump's now lobbing 4th grade insults at Powell to force rate cuts. Why? According to this administration, and its supporters, everything is better than ever. Why do we need this sort of pressure on the FED if all is well?
Another data point to co…
A big problem is that TSLA is a component of many mutual funds, whether one wants it or not. If not for that, I suspect it would be doing much worse.
Waymo is far ahead in autonomous taxis, and not carrying Musk's political baggage.
@Yogibearbull - Good additions to the list! I'd forgotten about ":collateralized debt obligations", that weren't quite as collateralized as we thought.
@Observant1 - good point.
These are people who want "State's rights" when the Dems hold the WH. And total federal control when the GOP holds the WH. Basically they want complete control with zero compromise. Call in the military!
This is what it has come to with this administration and these MAGA folks. Thin-skinned and hypocritical. Everyone from corporations to journalists must bow down, even in the face of their extreme views and behavior and failures.
If Democrats were…
Not really heard since the credit crisis: SIV - Structured Investment Vehicles
Defined as an investment full of things you do not understand and may not be appropriately rated. That will soon smell like 3-day old fish. In layman's terms.
I just want to thank the OP for helping to bring about a very lively and informative discussion, even if the outcome was not what he intended. It may just be a matter of time before the rose-colored glasses are out of season, or go way up in price.
Meanwhile back in the real world, Crude oil prices soared today and up over 20% from their recent lows. The CRB commodity index is higher now under Trump than it ever was under Biden. My point - inflation is not dead.
https://tradingeconomics.com…
Volatility from stocks doesn't tend to bother me as much as it does some people. I am comforted by the greater long term returns. What annoys me is buying investment grade bonds as "ballast" and having them lose money. Accepting the slower total gro…
To be fair domestic bonds may actually do well, when/if the FED is forced to lower rates. The pain will be up to that point. Which could be a while. Not sure exactly what I was thinking when I posted that second to last sentence. In fact, I thought…
I am now reminded of the very limited coverage that all the conservative "news" networks gave the events of Jan 6, as they unfolded in real time at our nation's capital. And how Fox eliminated all the violence and destruction from the video footage …
+1.
"...During pre-trial discovery, Fox News' internal communications were released, indicating that prominent hosts and top executives were aware the network was reporting false statements but continued doing so to retain viewers for financial rea…
>>>Pew has research on where Americans get their news. See (link). Dems are 3 times more than GOP listening to NPR. The numbers for WSJ are a lot closer.
What is correct and true is not subject to popularity, or opinion polls.
Well put. …
This is like saying that the inflation that occurred in 2022 didn't really happen because the events leading to it took 18 months to percolate. Talk about unfurling the "Mission Accomplished" banner prematurely.
It might even take longer than it t…
Everyone already saw the backward looking indicators. And everyone read that even the WSJ says "too soon" to tell. Including former Trump economic advisor. and head of Morgan Stanley, Jamie Dimon.
"Good" is relative. Biden had essentially the sam…
Doesn't SSA already have access to all this information? They certainly have a person's entire earnings history. And both SSA and Medicare are joined at the hip. Any chance this has something to do with the new SSA Fairness ACT? Which also has to d…
Tesla's "full self-driving" software was ranked 8th (by Consumer Reports) against other automakers, just a few months ago.
Will people actually get into a car with a Tesla logo these days? Maybe Musk will declare he is now a huge Democrat, in anot…
@Old_Joe
The impact of steel tariffs to canned goods was not something that I previously pondered.
Sadly, some people have a tin ear when factual data contradicts their chosen narrative.
Not to worry, MAGA workers and their children will flock to s…
Let's not listen to the people who run retail and logistics businesses, who say that job losses and higher prices are yet to come.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/11/trumps-done-deal-with-china-trade-supply-chain-damage-will-remain.html
Let's live in…
Inflation is probably still reacting to the FEDs rate policy as well. And adjusting to supply-chain issues. It takes time. I might add that if inflation is not an issue, and jobs reports look good, why the hell is Trump insisting that Powell lower r…
