SKARBECK: Expect more battles over public pensions
This year, 15 states have enacted legislation to reduce future public pension obligations.
Investing Column
Articles
HAUKE: Examining the virtues of a successful investor
I went back to ancient Greece and Rome and found long-running philosophical discussions about The Virtues.
HAUKE: Stock market not ready for bear quite yet
I continue to believe the April 23 high was not the end of the bull market that began in March 2009.
HICKS: Most majors pay off, but some a lot more than others
There is clearly something important about the totality
of what is learned in college, but, if you want to apply all those upper-level classes in your major, you’d better study
hard or pick the right field.
SKARBECK: Investors may miss mark by switching to bonds
It seems more likely that bond investors today are making the same mistake stock investors made back at the peak of the stock-market bubble.
HAUKE: Research, not gut, should drive market decisions
The greatest investors I know all use time-tested principles and apply them rigorously in their activities.
SKARBECK: U.S. will someday have to deal with debt
After years of easy borrowing that helped boost economic growth, governments around the globe are dealing with evil twinsâ??high levels of debt and shrinking revenue to repay.
HAUKE: Growth of government takes toll on stock returns
The unprecedented size of government in America matters to anyone who is concerned about wealth creation in this country.
SKARBECK: Financial overhaul law leaves much uncertainty
The public, to no surprise, is skeptical that the new regulations will succeed. A Bloomberg poll shows nearly four out of five Americans have little confidence the measures will prevent a crisis.
HAUKE: Future of car stocks may be electrifying
At some point, fuel cells may answer the hype they’ve lived under the last 15 years.
SKARBECK: Short-term sizzle can’t beat consistency
To achieve outsized returns, whether in mutual funds or individual stocks, investors must avoid the hype and reliance on past outperformance.
HAUKE: A long market slump would defy history
While the stock market is not as easy to follow as watching a calendar, it leaves evidence as to what it is going to do next,
much like falling leaves warn you about the coming of winter.
SKARBECK: Even investment stars have losing periods
Most investors have heard the cautionary statement “past
performance is not indicative of future results.” This oft-repeated caveat reveals its truth time and again in the investment
industry.
HAUKE: Despite much bad news, market outlook OK for now
Another fact emerged during May. People became way too bearish. Surveys and market action both suggested a growing fear that
became almost everyone’s opinion.
SKARBECK: Municipal bond defaults might be next crisis
for decades, politicians have regularly boosted public pension benefits to score election gains, while neglecting the long-term costs to municipal budgets. Now the bills are coming due.
HAUKE: Bad news doesn’t yet apply to stock market
Here are the facts. Summer doesn’t turn into winter without going through fall. The same is true with the transition between
bull and bear markets.
SKARBECK: Why do Fannie, Freddie deserve a free pass?
One crisis that continues to simmer under the public radar is the endless taxpayer support needed to prop up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
HAUKE: Uncertain conditions create opportunities
U.S. markets look like they have at least one more rally on the way at some point in the next few months.
SKARBECK: Exchanges’ proposed fix for glitch is ludicrous
Is investing becoming a technology-rigged game for computerized gamblers who rent stocks for seconds or minutes and whose objective is to repeatedly skim small profits?
HAUKE: Oil prices were headed up even before massive spill
That oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a nasty event that truly deserves all of our attention.
I want to see the hole capped quickly so the environment doesn’t get beat up any more than it already has, but I have
a feeling the economic and political ramifications will be felt for years to come.