In my work, I read a lot every day. I just finished reading a 19-page report by AllianceBernstein on the 100-year portfolio, with plenty of interesting charts and data. There is always something new to learn. Sometimes, even after years in the market, a good report can still make you stop and think. Here is…
Back to school
Most people in this business only talk about their winners. I have been doing this for 30 years. I have had losses. Real ones and well, the kind that cost money and time. Most people in this industry bury those stories. Nobody builds a personal brand on the trade that did not work. Here is…
The Fed, the bond market and a difficult balancing act
Over the last couple of years, investors have looked to the annual Jackson Hole meeting for clues about where interest rates and the markets might be heading. The formula was fairly straightforward. Listen to the Fed Chair, look for a hint, and then watch the markets interpret every word. This year was a little different….
Welcome to September
Here we are. September has begun. Every year around this time, we hear the same familiar warning: “September is going to be a disaster for the markets.” Oh no! It seems September has acquired quite a reputation. What interests me is where we are coming from. Investors are increasingly nervous about rising bond yields around…
Pranayama breathing
Pranayama, an ancient practice rooted in the Vedas and detailed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, a foundational Hindu scripture from around 200 B.C., involves breathing exercises designed to clear physical and emotional blockages, freeing the breath and allowing the flow of prana, or life energy. Typically, Pranayama is practiced before meditation to prepare the mind and…