SKARBECK: Are bailouts creating a ‘moral hazard’?
Will individuals and institutions take excessive risks in the future, operating on the belief that the government will step
in to rescue them if they encounter problems?
Investing Column
Articles
As debt weakens dollar, commodities get boost
There is one commodity that may have more potential over the next several years than all else: natural gas.
Top investment minds weigh in on erratic market
In recent weeks, two of the planet’s most respected investment minds have weighed in with their thoughts on the state of the world’s financial affairs—Bill Gross at PIMCO in southern California and Jeremy Grantham of GMO LLC in Boston. It is always worthwhile to examine their thoughts and the logic behind them. As investor hopes […]
Growing government likely to keep bull at bay
President Obama is wrong when he says government
is the only solution to what ails America’s economy. In reality, his thoughts are tragically flawed. Government, as we know it today, is the problem.
Data can be deceiving when the economy slows
Investors today are dealing with a variety of calculation problems when attempting to determine if stocks
are attractive values. Some of the more common ratios and statistical measures that investors regularly employ to value businesses
become skewed in an economic downturn.
Buy-and-hold evidence can be misleading
You’ve heard all the nonsense from the mainline advisers and brokers. They say a buy-and-hold approach is the answer, the
market always comes back, and diversified investing is the key to long-term success. You are starting to get the sense that it’s all bull. Here’s why.
Complex bond schemes haunt Indy, other cities
The city is just beginning to digest the news that came out of left field regarding Indianapolis Water Co.’s bond transaction gone wild.
Erosion of capitalism undermines market
A healthy economy can only be sustained under a true free-market capitalist society of producers and savers.
Skarbeck: Shareholders must hold fiduciaries’ feet to the fire
The economic downturn has provided shareholders an opportunity to press for change
on a variety of corporate governance issues.
Stocks are looking better, but keep your eyes open
Stop paying attention to the news and keep in mind that the stock market is only a tool for you to use to make money.
Banking system’s history should help ease fears
Since people must have confidence in the financial system for it to function properly, it is incumbent upon our leaders to
take action and assure the people their money is safe.
Market signs finally better, but don’t get too excited
I don’t think this bear can last another 17 months, because if it did, it would have a longer life than the greatest bear
market in our history.
Look beyond emotions when investing
As Ben Graham said in his Mr. Market allegory: “The market is there to serve you, not guide you.”
With bear market raging, are stocks priced right?
Looking past all the bad news, a forward-thinking investor should be asking: Just how cheap are U.S. stocks?
Gold has been glittering next to other commodities
It may be that gold is now beginning to reassert itself into the role it was meant to play for manâ??the only true store of value we have ever known.
Buy-and-hold a bad tactic in these market conditions
If world leaders don’t quickly demonstrate the courage to stop printing money, the long term is shot. And since that courage
isn’t likely to surface anytime soon, investors should rethink traditional strategies now.
Time to close book on ’08, and not a moment too soon
For investors across the globe, most
would agree that 2008 was an annus horribilis. Anyone with a vague recall of Latin will arrive at the translation of "horrible year."
Stay liquid, flush with cash in these tumultuous times
Liquidity is king! Stay away from long-term, illiquid commitments until the equity markets really flash sustained levels of
demand.
Weird yields for Treasuries evidence of investor angst
A large number of investors are so fearful these days that they have flocked to the safest securities, pushing down interest
rates to virtually nothing.
Interconnected economies exacerbate our challenges
Increasing specialization and interdependence worldwide results in worldwide economic difficulties.