January 2010
-
A little real estate and pharma
on
2010/01/31 by
Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]
Stocks have been sliding relentlessly since January 20. While we are adjusting our position to over 90 percent cash, we do believe that there is still some near-term growth potential for stocks, especially in certain sectors. Real estate, pharmaceuticals, and large-cap stocks look particularly good.
-
Markets unstable; stocks could still rise
on
2010/01/31 by
Alex, [TSP,Thrift Savings Plan]
Stocks have been sliding relentlessly since January 20. While we are adjusting our position to be mostly in the money market, we do believe that there is still some near-term potential for stocks coming back. Both the I Fund (“Europe Pacific”) and the S Fund (“Extended Market”) look good. Though the C Fund (“S&P 500″), [...]
-
Holding on to biotech
on
2010/01/25 by
Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]
We are holding on to biotech, as we still think it has good longer-term potential. Though many stocks dropped at the end of last week, biotech dropped less than large-cap stocks, indicating strength.
-
Large stocks
on
2010/01/18 by
Alex, [TSP,Thrift Savings Plan]
As the year begins, large company stocks are doing great. Bonds, which we recommended last time, are in a good uptrend too, though it is not as good as the one in large stocks.
-
Biotech still good
on
2010/01/18 by
Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]
Despite its sharp drop on Friday, biotech, which we recommended last week, continues to be in a strong uptrend. Another good investment right now is gold. Utilities, while still promising, are relatively weaker, so we are no longer recommending them.
-
Biotech
on
2010/01/10 by
Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]
This week, we’re recommending biotech, which has been doing well in the recent past, outperforming the general stock market. Utilities are a good way to diversify the biotech position.
-
Personal Investment Performance (PIP) calculation
on
2010/01/07 by
Alex, [FAQ]
It’s that time of the year again — people are going to be receiving statements from their retirement plans (including the Thrift Savings Plan) showing how much money they have made (or lost) within the past year. The confusing part is that, even if you had stayed within a particular fund for the entire year, [...]
-
Locking in losses
on
2010/01/06 by
Alex, [FAQ]
I regularly receive emails from people who tell me that they have been following some investment methodology, such as buy and hold, have recently lost a lot of money, have found our newsletters, want to follow our newsletter, but are afraid. (Boy, was that a mouthful. ) They are afraid that by switching out of [...]
-
The bubble in bonds (or, only the present exists)
on
2010/01/06 by
Alex, [FAQ]
Question: Although hundreds of billions are going into bond funds at this time, that seems imprudent to me. Why? Historically low Fed Rates are bound to be raised. Even anticipation of rising rates results in falling bond prices; actual rate rises will probably cause even higher rate of bond price drops. In light of the [...]
-
A good mix
on
2010/01/04 by
Alex, [ETF,Exchange-traded funds]
We’re recommending a mix of funds this week. Of the funds that we’re recommending, the telecom fund has the highest expected return. But because of its relatively high risk, we’re recommending the other funds as well, to moderate our overall risk exposure.