For income investors, the recent past has been anything but kind. Ever since the Fed’s Quantitative Easing program, which started in September 10, interest rates have headed higher and bond prices have turned south. Munis have been on a downward swing as well and may face more fundamental problems as States and Counties are mired in budget woes. Bucking the …
Reader Q+A: 2008 Stop Loss Observations
I have had some email exchanges with reader Ken, and he commented as follows: Thanks for your response and your very valuable information. I would just like to relay my experience with your approach to stop losses. When the market takes a tumble as in 2008, you could experience a 30% or greater loss before being able to activate a …
Sunday Musings: Reader Feedback On Complacency
As the markets have ratcheted higher over the past few months, I have repeatedly commented about investor complacency setting in. Some of the feedback I received even had a touch of arrogance as some seem to have thrown caution to the wind by jumping aboard of only the fastest moving ETFs. Reader Steve had his experiences and shared the following …
Reader Question: Which High Point Is Right When It Comes To Sell Stops?
Amazingly, there is always a question that has not been asked, although I thought I had heard them all. Here’s what reader Gary had to say: In using a high, from which to calculate a 7% or 10% stop, it’s pretty easy with a mutual fund, because there is only one price per day. But for ETFs, there is an …
No Load Fund/ETF Tracker updated through 2/17/2011
My latest No Load Fund/ETF Tracker has been posted at: http://www.successful-investment.com/newsletter-archive.php Slow and steady was the theme of the week as the S& 500 gained about 1%. Our Trend Tracking Index (TTI) for domestic funds/ETFs has moved above its trend line (red) by +6.01% (last week +5.47%) and remains in bullish mode. The international index has broken above its long-term …
Cheering The Fed
It was a bit of a roller coaster ride yesterday, as the chart above shows. Strong earnings from Dell and Deere got the rally going, which was derailed shortly thereafter based on news reports that two Iranian warships were passing through the Suez Canal on their way to Syria. Gold and oil rallied while the markets sold off, but they …