<i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i>: The bitter economic costs of cheap oil, plus notes on taking advantage of the rising dollar, avoiding bond funds like the plague, and running toward market volatility.
One upside to the stock market carnage of the past week or two is that the wildly popular alternative-strategy mutual funds, better known as liquid alts, have finally been tested on the open road.
Claims over the firm's Puerto Rican bond funds exceed $900 million, three times as much as in the first quarter, and plaintiffs' attorneys say the number will probably climb higher.
Recent global economic and political turmoil leads to doubt about forecasts from Federal Reserve officials &mdash; and most Wall Street economists &mdash; that the Fed will begin to lift its benchmark interest rates in mid-2015.
Money manager instituted or lowered voluntary caps on share classes of its Low Duration, Core Bond and Total Return funds.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> What will Janet Yellen and the other Fed policy makers say, and how will investors react? Plus: Why focus on the Fed at all? And traps to avoid on the way to success, Facebook earnings, private equity risks and Game 7
50-basis-point intraday swing Oct. 15 caused by investors betting on rising rates - and bailing out
Last week's purchases illustrate the growth over the last few years in investment options tied to social improvements.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i>Finance-focused ETFs suffer huge outflows. What gives? Plus: Prudential Financial's spooky reinsurance bet, investing in obesity, private lawyers give corporate inversions a leg up, and location matters less when the house you're selling is haunted.
On today's <i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i> menu: Investors banking on holiday spending. Plus: Less-secure Social Security, when gold and platinum run in stride, Facebook is now bigger than IBM, and the tired saga on endless office meetings.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i>: The Fed tries to inject a sense of calm in the market, Mohamed El-Erian passes on Pimco, all economists get it wrong, a global currency war is unfolding before our eyes, and more.
Value in managed volatility comes from potentially getting equity-like exposure with similar returns, lower volatility and better downside performance
BlackRock's Laurence Fink just one CEO asked about what's going on in financial markets lately.
On Thursday's <i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i> menu: John Bogle says retirement plans will suffer under active management fees. Plus: Cheap oil's fallout hits gold prices, media hype overstates the Fed's taper tap-out, and more.
Returns in 2015 may be less than half of the 8.6% logged in 2014.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Fresh talk of extending QE is a sign that the markets just want more. Plus, gold shines bright among the carnage, learning to love leverage, and more.
This week's must-read stories for advisers include employment drama at LPL and Merrill, Bill Gross speaking out, and a renewed push for more women in advice.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> When in doubt, follow bonds' lead. Plus: Consumer spending to the rescue, Johnson replaces Johnson at Fidelity, and more.
A lot of downside risk in fixed income has been removed and investors should take advantage of strong investment opportunities that have formed in the bond market.
