Over the last few months we’ve seen a significant decline in the decline of the Euro against other global currencies. Even compared to some of the more volatile currencies, the Euro is considered to have underperformed on all fronts. However, as 2012 begins to shows indications that a … [Read more...]
Evaluation of Vanguard World Funds & Consumer Staples Mutual Funds
Filed Under: Fund Analysis by
If you haven’t been following along regularly, this is going to be a post that evaluates a series of Mutual Funds based on a selection of information that is compiled in the previous post. You don’t need to open a window to keep up with everything that’s going on, but you can if … [Read more...]
Doomsday Scenario The Risk of Economic Evaporation
Filed Under: Doomsday Scenarios by
During the Mortgage Crisis, the Federal Reserve had to issue more than $700B worth of ‘stimulus’ funds towards saving the economy from economic ruin. Ignoring the ongoing debate about how effectively those funds were actually applied, I raise this example to illustrate how it is that … [Read more...]
Part 1 Practical Mutual Funds: How to Gain For Smart Investors
Filed Under: Mutual Funds by
As a personal investor, your mutual funds are your life-blood. Their ability to place a smaller retail client in a favourable buying position, combined with the benefits of professional management out-weigh any other asset class in your portfolio. Be they income producing or … [Read more...]
Big Yields from Covered Cap ETFs
Filed Under: Investing Strategies by
Throughout the week, we’ve discussed the value of using options to hedge returns and increase yields. Having gone through the absolute basics of these strategies, it’s no wonder that their profitability has begun to emerge in the mutual funds industry. Specifically, “Covered Cap” ETFs … [Read more...]
Portfolio Balancing Part 3 – What Should Your Portfolio Look Like?
Filed Under: Portfolio Balancing by
Over the course of the first and second articles we’ve investigated how the four main asset classes can be used in your personal investment portfolio to manage your monthly expenses, while maintaining the liquidity necessary to your lifestyle. To make for an exciting conclusion of … [Read more...]
Research in Motion The Failing Giant
Filed Under: Business Value by
Research in Motion has been in the front page of the news for years now. As the manufacturer of the highly sophisticated mobile products in the blackberry line, RIM was able to capture a huge share of the corporate technology market. Focusing on creating secure business communications … [Read more...]
JMCVX & FMILX Mutual Funds Overview: Broad Market Investment and Diversification
Filed Under: Fund Analysis by
Having looked at a number of different mutual funds that focus in on generating returns based on the performance of specific market aspects, I’ve decided to spend this week comparing a set of broad market funds. By including funds such as the Janus Investment Fund Mid-Cap Value Fund, … [Read more...]
Understanding Stock Market Momentum Investing
Filed Under: Investing Strategies by
Momentum investing is a strategy that revolves around buying high, and selling even higher. While not necessarily as mathematically grounded a strategy as others, it has demonstrated itself time and again as being an extremely effective method of money management. Specifically, … [Read more...]
How To Evaluate The Vanguard Energy Fund (VGENX)
Filed Under: Fund Analysis by
In the last post, I summarized the inner-workings of the Vanguard Energy Fund. Today, I’m going to take you through exactly how I would evaluate this fund as an investment opportunity for a personal investor. I’m going to pursue this evaluation under the following … [Read more...]
Understanding Economies of Scale: Bid and Ask Spreads
Filed Under: Economics of Scale by
The other day I received a question at work about how it is that a mutual fund or ETF can provide an investor with scale in an investing portfolio. The asking party was mainly curious about how it is that the diversification benefits of a fund can outweigh the liquidity that an … [Read more...]
Increased Demand for Energy Infrastructure
Filed Under: Investing Trends by
So far, all of the major trends we’ve discussed have revolved around expanding consumer demand, as a result of population growth and changes in income dynamics. However, this kind of growth has some implications for growth of the economy as a whole. Specifically, as consumer spending … [Read more...]
2012 Investing Trends: Agricultural Demand & Agricultural ETF
Filed Under: Investing Trends by
A recurring theme for investing in 2012 that people are discussing today involves developing countries. Specifically, trends seem to be surrounding how markets will adapt to accommodate increasing population sizes, and growing levels of wealth. One of the most pervasive investment … [Read more...]
Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock Manipulation Report
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) one the most manipulated stocks of 2012 continues the trend into 2013. Most technicians would agree that when viewing a chart of Apple Inc. stock there appears to be some "irregularities," during some periods of time. Questionable trading activity can be … [Read more...]
Part 4 Practical Mutual Funds: Finding Fixed Income
Filed Under: Mutual Funds by
I’ve saved the best for last in this ongoing series describing the practical fundamentals of investing in Mutual Funds. You can check out my first three articles in this series here (1, 2, 3). By taking the time to understand how it is that Income-Oriented Mutual Funds create value … [Read more...]
JMCVX & FMILX Mutual Funds Evaluations: Broad Market Investment and Diversification
Filed Under: Fund Analysis by
Having taken a moment to review the comparative numbers of JMCVX & FMILX in the previous post, it’s time to jump in and make some decisions. By the end of this article we’ll have evaluated the fundamentals of the Janus Investment Fund Perkins Mid Cap Value Fund (JMCVX), and the … [Read more...]
Applying Value Analysis to Liabilities and Solvency
Filed Under: Value Investing by
Up to this point, we’ve now examined how to evaluate aspects of the revenues, expenses, and assets of a company using value analysis. Having looked at the asset evaluations we’ve already completed, it is equally important to evaluate the liabilities that a company incurs. Since … [Read more...]
Accessing Safer Foreign Bond Yields
Filed Under: Investing Strategies by
In the age of modern volatility, you need yield. Be it dividends, coupon payments, or GIC returns, it is extremely difficult for a small-time investor to build a personal portfolio centering on capital gains. However, unless you’ve stocked up on a year’s worth of anti-acids and nausea … [Read more...]
Vanguard World Funds & Consumer Staples Index Fund
Filed Under: Fund Analysis by
Last series of posts, I summarized and compared a set of somewhat aggressive utilities funds. Since then, the markets have become even more volatile, and the market is predicted to continue regressing into instability. In honour of these predictions, I’d like to spend this week … [Read more...]
Maintaining Market Exposure through Traditionally Ultra Safe Asset Classes
Filed Under: Investing Strategies by
I find I can’t bring myself to watch the business news anymore in the mornings. Everywhere I look, panelists and pundits alike seem to be lamenting over the increasing complexity required to maintain a portfolio in the modern market. Whereas statistical and technical alchemy used … [Read more...]
