The conference continues in Florida, where Craig Alexander from TD provided a concise overview of the global economy’s trajectory. Unlike Dr. Siegel, his view is not quite as rosy. While the salesman in him was trying hard to see the glass as half-full, the economist in Alexander and the data presented painted a more dismal and, in our opinion, more realistic view of what’s ahead.
Category: Macro Commentary
01
Feb
2012
Rydex and Wisdom Tree Managed Futures Products- January 2012
Every month, we break down the performance of managed futures versus the main ETFs and mutual funds that call themselves managed futures. What did that mean in January 2012?
01
Feb
2012
Asset Class Scoreboard- January 2012
Every month, we update our asset class scorecard, pitting managed futures against U.S. real estate, world stocks, U.S. stocks, commodities, hedge funds, bonds, and cash on year-to-date performance. What was the score in the first month of 2012?
26
Jan
2012
Lower Managed Futures Returns with Fed’s Lower Rates?
With Bill Gross calling the Fed’s extending of the zero rate period into 2014 today the equivalent of QE 2.5, we continue to sigh. Zero level rates aren’t exactly what we’d hoped for. After all, one of the benefits of investing via managed accounts is the ability to fund your account with tbills- gaining interest […]
23
Jan
2012
The Manager Selection Conundrum Solution
Barry Ritholtz recently posed an interesting question to a group of family offices during a presentation he made: “Who is good at picking Hedge fund managers? Who amongst you has the ability to consistently evaluate managers who then outperform over time?” In light of 2011’s subpar performance across the hedge fund universe (and in managed […]
11
Jan
2012
Managed Futures and the ETF Revolution
In case you missed it, PIMCO- bulwark of the mutual fund sect- is aligning with the enemy. Via Reuters: Pacific Investment Management Co has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch its total return exchange-traded fund on March 1, Pimco said on its website.. The company announced plans last year for the […]
06
Jan
2012
Rydex and Wisdom Tree Managed Futures Products v. Actual Managed Futures- One Year Later
Well, it’s officially a year later, and after following the performance of the managed futures products offered by both Rydex and Wisdom Tree month after month during a year that was rough sailing for true managed futures as an asset class, we still have zero qualms with the arguments we levied against them so many […]
03
Jan
2012
Welcome to 2012
We hope you were ready for action when you woke up this morning, as the markets semmed to simultaneously surge skyward. With a major “risk on” morning led by Chinese manufacturing numbers christening the brand new year, managed futures is already looking at a mixed bag in the nascent stages of the year. Of the […]
30
Dec
2011
Long-only Commodity ETFs v. Futures – 2011 Final Score
The year has drawn to a close, and while the powers that be are still hard at work tallying up the 2011 results for various asset classes, the year has already issued its verdict on commodity investment options. We’ve posted throughout the year on the underperformance of long-only commodity ETFs- especially when you have the […]
28
Dec
2011
The 5 Questions Every Investor Needs to Answer
With 2011 coming to a close and 2012 just around the corner, it’s only natural to start contemplating your New Year’s resolutions. While the traditional resolutions that come to mind are often personal (better fitness, less stress and more philanthropy are some of the most common if you ask the government), we urge you not […]
