Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
As a novice investor I watched in amazement as those bank preferreds tumbled until March 2009. Everone was afraid of default or worse. But to my knowledge not one of the major banks mentioned in your article defaulted on a single preferred dividend.
How is this possible? The NY fed must have whispered in someones ear to buy bank preferreds, that we (the fed) will backstop the banks (TARP, etc.). Just wish we were in on that possible exchange.
PS If any of my statements are incorrect I am sorry in advance.
Apple Has Peaked: The Warning Signs Are Multiplying [View article]
As an observer who has no axe to grind in the debate over whether Apple has peaked in it's growth cycle I offer the following observation. Those arguing in favor of the continuation of the Apple growth cycle seem to be emotional about their conviction. Emotion does not normally belong in successful investment strategies.
I hesitate to use this term but there appears to be an Apple cult among it's supporters.
California faces a deficit of $16B, Governor Jerry Brown said yesterday (video), not the $9B he'd estimated in January. The ballooning gap is due to tepid tax revenues and slow progress in slashing budgets, which Brown blamed on the federal government and the courts. One bit of hope is Facebook's IPO, which could bring in $2B. (see also) [View news story]
2-Year Treasury Yields Fall to Record Low [View article]
There is a awful lot of political commentary going on here. I'm not getting into that. I recently saw the re-broadcast on public television of a speech by economist Jeffery Sachs. He stated that the theory that reduced government spending in the context of stable revenue is stimulative to business investment was a popular view before the Great Depression. In his opinion this view was discredited by events during and after the 1930's. He was quoting from his recent book.
By way of disclaimer I am a retired engineer trying to learn to manage my investments successfully.
3-Year / YTD Mortgage REIT Comparisons Indicate At Least One Move Coming [View article]
The underperformance of REM on the 3 year chart is largely due to bankruptcies of one or more REITs held in its' portfolio during the crash. Since none of the other six REITS went to zero three years back they would outperform REM almost by definition. REM looks much better on a two year comparison.
Preferred Stocks Making a Comeback? One ETF to Consider [View article]
During the crisis of 2008 /2009 I followed the large bank preferreds closely. No private investors that I knew of thought the preferred holders would escape a haircut in the event of a government bailout. But guess what, not one of the money center banks missed a preferred dividend that I have been able to find. Amazing. Will it happen again?
Bond Market to Fed: Your QE2 Logic Was Wrong [View article]
The author is an economist and I am but a retired engineer, so I therefore have a question regarding the Feds motive behind QE2. Is it possible, as Bill Gross has suggested, that the Fed intended to stimulate the economy by inflating asset prices, in particular the equity markets, thereby infusing higher confidence in the recovery.
Now Is Not the Right Time to Buy TIPS [View article]
I can't follow the authors arithmetic, but TIPS`are redeemed at par plus accreted inflation, but never less than par. In this case at $1000 since this is a re-opening of the spring 2010 issue
Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
How is this possible? The NY fed must have whispered in someones ear to buy bank preferreds, that we (the fed) will backstop the banks (TARP, etc.). Just wish we were in on that possible exchange.
PS If any of my statements are incorrect I am sorry in advance.
2 Oil Companies That Should Be On Your Watch List For The Coming Weeks [View article]
How about that cpa28761?
Apple Has Peaked: The Warning Signs Are Multiplying [View article]
I hesitate to use this term but there appears to be an Apple cult among it's supporters.
Scenes From Microsoft's Packed Times Square Surface Launch [View article]
Revamping Your Bond Portfolio With A Simple Momentum Strategy [View article]
Meredith Whitney's Muni Massacre And The Recent California Municipal Bankruptcies [View article]
California faces a deficit of $16B, Governor Jerry Brown said yesterday (video), not the $9B he'd estimated in January. The ballooning gap is due to tepid tax revenues and slow progress in slashing budgets, which Brown blamed on the federal government and the courts. One bit of hope is Facebook's IPO, which could bring in $2B. (see also) [View news story]
My Take On Kinder Morgan [View article]
Identifying The Lowest Risk Preferred Stocks [View article]
AIG is not (or was not) a bank, but a big issuer of debt including preferreds.
2-Year Treasury Yields Fall to Record Low [View article]
By way of disclaimer I am a retired engineer trying to learn to manage my investments successfully.
3-Year / YTD Mortgage REIT Comparisons Indicate At Least One Move Coming [View article]
Preferred Stocks Making a Comeback? One ETF to Consider [View article]
Bond Market to Fed: Your QE2 Logic Was Wrong [View article]
Is the Bond Market Rally Over? [View article]
Now Is Not the Right Time to Buy TIPS [View article]