Investors and traders spend an enormous amount of time trying to figure out what markets will do next. There is no shortage of indicators telling us what investors are thinking, what they are buying and what they are expecting. This came up in a call with some partners this morning and it reminded me why…
Author: YH Wong
America’s debt problem
I was explaining to an investor recently why I think the real American problem is not necessarily the economy or the stock market. It is debt. The US federal debt has already surpassed USD40 trillion and the fiscal deficit so far this year is around USD1.8 trillion. At some point, you do not need a…
When hype becomes a game
A client recently made fun of me for not playing pickleball. I suppose I have missed the memo. Suddenly, every empty space, from parking lots to old tennis courts is being converted into pickleball arenas. Hey boys and girls, it is the hottest trend in town. Everyone wants to be seen playing the game these…
Survey Monday
Will more sanctions on Iran actually work? With the conflict involving Iran continuing, the obvious question is whether further economic sanctions would actually change Tehran’s calculations or simply make an already complicated situation more complicated. Sanctions can certainly hurt. They can restrict access to foreign currency, reduce oil revenues and raise the cost of doing…
The world is always ending
I have written quite a couple pieces over the years about the professional gloom-and-doom crowd, so this is hardly a new subject for me. It came up again recently when I was speaking with some new prospects who seemed permanently plugged into social media accounts predicting the next market crash, recession, currency crisis or financial…
The bond market is sending a signal
The strange thing about this market is that the bond market is starting to look more interesting than the stock market. Long-term Treasury yields surged with the 30-year briefly above 5.30% and the 10-year ending the week at 4.74%. The Treasury responded by doubling its long-bond buybacks. Deutsche Bank described the move, together with the…
When too much of a good thing becomes a problem
Many investors build their wealth by staying close to what they know. For some, that is property. For others, it is technology, AI, or the company they have worked for and invested in alongside it. Nothing wrong with that. Concentration is usually how wealth gets made in the first place. The problem shows up later…
The business of being seen
There is a whole business built around being seen doing business. Spend a few minutes on LinkedIn and you will quickly notice the familiar cycle: another summit, another panel, another fireside chat, another award, followed by a carefully worded post about being “honoured” or “privileged” to participate. Sometimes the same person manages all four within…
How to manage stress as a trader
My latest piece on how to manage stress as a trader without all the usual jargon or complicated theories has just been published in The Armchair Trader newsletter. I was introduced to the publication through a long-time friend and partner, which is how this little collaboration came about. Established in 2010, The Armchair Trader is…
A bull market has plenty to worry about
The bulls are getting even more confident. Corporate earnings have been stronger than expected. In other words, the market is being driven by actual data rather than just optimism and wishful thinking. The current decade is already shaping up to be one of the stronger periods for US stocks. That may sound impressive but history…