Calling investors "handcuffed volunteers," Howard Marks says the people buying high-yield (HYG, JNK) at 6% are doing so only because T-bills pay 0.25%. These investors weren't buying 10 years ago at 12% or 4 years ago at 20%. "Are they doing it because they are pie-eyed optimists? No, (but) because they have to have income to eat." [View news story]
Howard may not be the last person to notice this, but he is pretty far down on the list.
The money management business inspires a lively exchange at the Barron's Roundtable, with Brian Rogers' liking of Legg Mason (LM) as either a value or takeover play getting the thumbs up from Mario Gabelli, but a razzing from Bill Gross who says the stock-picking industry is in secular decline thanks to ETFs. Gabelli to Gross: "If you want to preach in favor of mindless investing, we don't have to stand by." [View news story]
If Gabelli thinks all ETFs are index funds, he's wrong
Is Housing Messing Up Inflation Measures? Yes, But... [View article]
The Government calls people who have never been landlords, and probably have little or no information on local rental properties, and asks them how much rent they would charge someone for their house, - they use that number in the CPI? Incredible!
If the CPI had reflected what it costs to build a house, the housing bubble would likely have been avoided.
I like the reason that is given - real housing costs caused the CPI to change too much! Isn't that the purpose of the index?
Calling investors "handcuffed volunteers," Howard Marks says the people buying high-yield (HYG, JNK) at 6% are doing so only because T-bills pay 0.25%. These investors weren't buying 10 years ago at 12% or 4 years ago at 20%. "Are they doing it because they are pie-eyed optimists? No, (but) because they have to have income to eat." [View news story]
Permanent Portfolio By A Different Name [View article]
The money management business inspires a lively exchange at the Barron's Roundtable, with Brian Rogers' liking of Legg Mason (LM) as either a value or takeover play getting the thumbs up from Mario Gabelli, but a razzing from Bill Gross who says the stock-picking industry is in secular decline thanks to ETFs. Gabelli to Gross: "If you want to preach in favor of mindless investing, we don't have to stand by." [View news story]
Why We See Gold Going Lower Long-Term [View article]
Is Housing Messing Up Inflation Measures? Yes, But... [View article]
If the CPI had reflected what it costs to build a house, the housing bubble would likely have been avoided.
I like the reason that is given - real housing costs caused the CPI to change too much! Isn't that the purpose of the index?