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.
I have parked cash in RPHYX and RSIVX for about the last 15 months. My basis is actually more than the market values of these funds given the reinvested dividends and paltry increases in NAV. The money seems safe, but I almost feel as though I'm pay…
I think it very helpful to read the history of Europe in the 20th Century when judging whether or not the capitalism practiced there is comparable to the American form. Many of the countries,in both East and West blocs, had to re-organize themselves…
If you can stand some more heat, try this article out for making your blood boil:
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/03/wall-street-executives-2008-jamie-dimon-cancer
I have been aggressively allocated to International and EM for several years. I raised the issue because I feel as though I'm fighting the tape, so to speak. Ted's latest post demonstrates this. Grandeur Peak funds I hold have been disappointing for…
Thanks for this amusing composite video. Couldn't help think of the exploding manhole covers in NYC that David Letterman often features. These people don't have my ear the way John Houseman did.
Now I don't feel so bad about missing out on the issuance of new shares last year. I misinterpreted what Schwab asked me to do and I got no new shares.
@Scott: noted your interest in getting back into HQL. Tekla announced authorization to repurchase up to 12% of outstanding shares. I guess that will benefit me, but it's hard to call the shares undervalued.
To my knowledge, Obama got no credit last year for saying a team like UConn could win it all. I was listening, but I graduated from the wonderful place and could have been listening selectively.
I have some cash parked in both of those bond funds; for me the dough is there because money market funds pay nothing, so I don't pay much mind to the NAV.
Mr. Berkowitz's background reminds me a bit of John Montgomery's. The latter trained as an engineer at MIT and worked in public transportation before founding Bridgeway. That shop's "quant" methodology, which no outside commentator ever got to see, …
In 2013, all distributions were income, in 2014, most were ROC, as you pointed out. This year, all are ROC. It is quite possible that the MLPs held by CEM have passed through capital. The ROC affects the basis, so it becomes a tax headache when I se…
@Kaspa: In a way, I have a momentum portfolio, but I've never called it that. It's that portion of my non-retirement savings that I trade pretty actively, using MFs, ETFs, CEFs, or stocks. I agree with you that Emerging Markets have lacked momentum…
Get What's Yours by Kotlikoff, Moeller and Solman. This is a Simon and Schuster e-book on Social Security. Despite the seeming dryness of the topic, it's fascinating and very helpful.
You can be sure that Janus 40 bears Doug RAO's signature. In a previous post here I pointed out that the fund's shareholders received massive distributions in 2013 and 2014. I opined that he must have done a lot of selling.
I held MFCFX and made good money when Doug Rao managed the fund. I sold soon after he left. The fund was never a "flexible capital" fund at all as the bond and alternative holdings to stocks have never made up a significant portion of the fund. It's…
I subscribe to the NY Times and WSJ and Barrons and I read a lot of different stuff online, sites others have mentioned. Best financial writing I often find is in Vanity Fair, particularly the most recent issue.
@old_skeet. May I ask if you pay loads on all the funds you hold? Without checking previous posts, my impression is that you frequently cite A class funds in your sleeves. Thanks.
PCYC is a real winner for the Medical Technology Stock Letter (bioinvest.com). The McCamants have had the company in their recommended portfolio since the early days. The newsletter subscription is pricey, but lurkers can easily identify the stocks …
Barrons in this article certainly side-stepped the controversial nature of these buybacks, a topic that exercised many on this board when I brought it up.
Thanks for this exceptionally intelligent posting. From the title, I thought I was going to be ducking salvos from unknown combatants, but this was not the case.
Charles McCarry is indeed a great writer. If you like spy fiction, he's well worth exploring. I'll spare you all the 50-minute lecture on my other book recommendations.
@Old_Joe- I hanging on to CEM, the Clearbridge MLP CEF. Price of this fund irrationally follows the price of oil, even though the MLPs in the fund are in the business of transporting oil and gas, not exploration or production. The yield is good and …
Added SFREX and GLOFX. Sold most of HDSPX because it's too heavy in Texas and Trinity Industries (just not my type of company). Reduced GPEOX. Lightened up on WSCVX but kept big position in WSVIX.
