Insights on markets, emergent trends, history, innovation, risk management, global economics, strategy, policy, and other topics that catch our attention. Inspired by ongoing research, conversations and events. Written and edited by Osbon Capital Management and published every Thursday morning.
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Too much time is spent talking about price. Fundamentals are ultimately what drive equity prices higher over time. To say this another way, a company’s stock price can’t continue to rise unless it continues to be successful. The famous quote by Warren Buffett is, “In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run (...)
The Unloved Part Two: Japan
Two weeks ago we talked about the four year 40 percent decline in gold, making it one of the world’s most thoroughly unloved asset classes. Gold’s big decline is a sure signal to rebalance. But gold’s not the only asset looking for love in all the wrong places. This week we have an even worse performance story: zero return after 25…
What If It’s 2008 All Over Again?
What would you do now if you knew we were soon heading into a recession? Do you feel that you have the right team with the right incentives and skills to guide your portfolio (and your emotions) through the bad times? Here are some questions to ask yourself so that you can decide if you are adequately prepared. Who’s with me?…
Why You Need What No One Wants
There aren’t too many investments selling today at their 2010 prices. Not the stock market, up more than 100% since then. Or the bond market, lower in yield by 50% and therefore much higher in price. Or real estate which has surged broadly since that time. What’s left? Gold!, the investment that is fast becoming completely unloved. Why own gold…
7 Ways Investment Professionals Add Value
Sure, you could save a lot of money if you eliminated all the specialized professionals in your life. You could rewire your own kitchen, represent yourself in court, and suture up your next nasty cut. You could, but you probably won’t. Because the benefit of hiring a professional outweighs the cost. The same applies in investing, although many still try…
One Form Can Save You $2 Million
You’d have to be paying very close attention to recent IRS comments to know that your potential estate tax just went down $2 million. How is this possible? Aren’t taxes going up everywhere? Not for some wealthy folks and their heirs. Does this apply to you? Here’s what the IRS has posted lately. Death and taxes They say you can…
Now You’re An Expert On China
Chinese stocks were up 150 percent since last November and now they are down 35 percent since June. The popular business press is reporting more and more on the Chinese stock market up and downs. What’s going on? Should you care, and should you invest? Here are a few facts that will put you ahead of the discussion. How big is China?…
EMMA will make you smarter
Did you ever have the sense you were somehow being taken advantage of when buying or selling a municipal bond? It’s not a good feeling. But with EMMA, the Electronic Municipal Market Access, you will never experience that again. This online system lets you see all muni bond trade prices as they happen. In terms of providing transparency and protecting your interests, it…
The Secrets to Better Investing are Not Secrets
Most providers of investment guidance want you to believe that they have some kind of mysterious secret, a magic key that unlocks a hidden universe of market-beating performance. Maybe it’s proprietary company research, access to exclusive hedge funds, or the decoder ring for price/volume charts. The complexity of these secrets may make them seem important and compelling, but we know…
The Best Kept Secret In Higher Education
If you or your child could get a Harvard education at 25 percent of its usual cost and with no application required, would you do it? Do you even believe it is possible? With a dismally low acceptance rate at Harvard University and tuition bills that should only be opened while sitting down, a Harvard education just doesn’t seem attainable for…
