Many Americans are making smart moves with their investment portfolios by favoring foreign stocks over domestic ones. But it's not because they've suddenly become savvy.
Today's <i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i> also features notes on geopolitical unrest hitting the markets, an IPO-heavy week, and Morgan Stanley junior bankers getting a 'living wage.'
On today's <i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i> menu: Gearing up for Fed news. Plus: Putin's next move could be painful; Argentina teeters on the brink of default; another naysayer calls for a correction; the long view on a higher minimum wage; and a portfolio rebalance refresher.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Looking past all the geopolitical risk. Plus: U.S. investors finally start diversifying overseas, what's not to like about a marijuana ETF, how the Millennial generation slept through the bull market run, and a tribute to a fund industry critic.
Investors look beyond geopolitical risks and focus on improving economy, corporate profits.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Advisers go liquid to navigate Yellen Fed policy. Plus: Global stocks are loving the Fed's latest non-move, energy stocks ride high on the unrest in Iraq, an IRS excuse that the IRS would never accept from you, and political correctness has the Washington Redskins surrounded.
Proprietary traders who use computers to buy and sell stocks in milliseconds would have to register with the agency under chair's recommendations.
Facing new pressure to overhaul trading after Michael Lewis's book "Flash Boys," the regulator may require brokers to reveal exactly where stock trades are executed. The change would limit deals brokers make with exchanges at the expense of investors' interests.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> Don't look now, but wage growth (for dishwashers, for example) is on the radar. Plus: The SEC's half fix for money funds, a golden cross for Goldman, judge blocks 'Wall Street Wolf's' sucker list, and big city life can be a drag.
On today's <i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i> menu, global markets feel the pressure of an uptick in geopolitical risk, as oil prices move higher. Plus notes on where to go when volatility rises, and more.
On today's <i>Breakfast with Benjamin</i> menu, Pres. Obama pushes for tighter border rules for U.S. companies trying to exit for tax purposes, asset managers unprepared for a bear market, and more.
On Friday's menu: Barclays hits back on dark pool charges. Plus: Seeing the markets through the eyes of regular investors, why young folks should embrace bear markets, discount retailers set to shine, another cheap swipe at mortgage interest deductions, and the SEC hasn't forgotten about those pesky high-speed traders.
<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> What bond investors can learn from Lebron James. Plus: Gold: It all depends on the Fed; commodities as a geopolitical hedge; investing in women; and golf stocks come up short.
Plus: Credit Suisse exits the commodities trading business, Allianz stands by Bill Gross, silver has a golden summer run, three taxes we can all dislike together, and don't let tourist scams rain on your vacation
In the world of financial market push-me-pull-you, there is nothing quite like the counterintuitive reality of market volatility, which is currently lower than it has been in years. Commonly dubbed the “fear index”, the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX) is languishing near its lowest point since 2007. If fear, as measured by volatility, is low, that's a good thing, right? Sort of.
On a major trading day, “passive” fund managers will be active traders as portfolios change.
A growing number of portfolio managers, including DoubleLine Capital's Jeffrey Gundlach, are re-evaluating their forecasts for rising yields as Treasuries recorded their best annual start since 2008.
Initial public offerings are hot, but hot items can be too hot to handle and burn the unwary.
Performance history indicates that all the attention around IPOs means regular investors need to exercise extra caution.
Plus: Janet Yellen's dovish optimism, Ernst & Young's $4 million lobbying settlement, how Citigroup agreed on that $7 billion figure, and QE has had almost no impact on unemployment
