Author: Anu Heda

Best Blogs of the Week #220

Posted by Anu Heda on Feb 29, 2016, in Best Blogs of the Week , tagged with , ,

Three posts in our 220th edition related to industry blogs. Two viewpoints on a similar topic; which is very exciting (to us).

AB – High Yield: Could the 2008 Crisis Repeat Itself? – We understand why investors are concerned. Memories of the global financial crisis are still fresh in all of our minds, and sharp sell-offs like the one high yield has endured are never pleasant. But in our view, the recent turmoil simply doesn’t compare to what happened in 2008.

Franklin Templeton – This is Not 2008 – In our assessment, market fears of deflation are unwarranted. The decline in headline inflation has been driven by the collapse in oil prices, yet core inflation has been positive and stable.

Invesco – President’s budget retirement proposals: Few new, many repeats – While most ideas are repeats from past budgets, some of which have been slightly tweaked, several new provisions debuted this year.

Best Blogs of the Week #219

Posted by Anu Heda on Feb 22, 2016, in Best Blogs of the Week , tagged with , ,

Three blogs this week spanning wide ranging topics.

BlackRock – Why Investors Have Reason to Be Optimistic – Leading indicators still look okay. Much of this year’s selling has been driven by recession fears.

Columbia – Do a grouch a favor – I believe that fair value for the S&P 500 is in the range of 1800 to 1850. That does not mean that pessimism won’t drive it lower. If it does, there will probably be a buying opportunity.

Wells Fargo – How the price of oil could affect equities – In the recent past, oil and the stock market have moved in lock-step. Many on the equity side looked at petroleum as the canary in the coal mine that was sensing an economic slowdown and telling us just that, which I’m not sure was entirely right or wrong.

Best Blogs of the Week #218

Posted by Anu Heda on Feb 15, 2016, in Best Blogs of the Week , tagged with ,

Only two blog posts from the past two weeks make the cut here.

BlackRock – A Not So Gentle Reminder of Why You Should Own Bonds – And the recent market swings really bring this diversification discussion home. When the equity market is performing well, you may be giving up some gains by owning bonds, but you’re also building some cushion should stock markets fall.

WisdomTree – Are You Having Trouble Timing the Market? – A simple, well-known adage says that successful investing is all about “time in the market, rather than timing the market.”

The Professional

Super Bowl 50: Highest Impact Commercial

Posted by Anu Heda on Feb 12, 2016, in Thoughts

 

Like most 2016 viewers, I’m equally interested in the commercials and the game (especially in this year’s defensive battle). There were so many clever commercials that made me laugh. But for me, the highest impact commercial came from Henkel‘s Persil ProClean. Why? Two reasons:

  1. Product Awareness – Simply, I had never heard of Persil before. This commercial introduced me to a new product. I’m highly aware of so many brands advertised during the Super Bowl that those brands become background to the entertainment value of the commercial. During the Persil commercial, I was taking note of the product.
  2. Relevancy – I’m mildly unhappy with many laundry detergents. So I’m looking out for viable, new options. This category is highly relevant to me (polar opposite to the successful eSurance advertisements as I don’t own a motor vehicle). Judging from this Wall Street Journal article, I am not alone in finding detergent relevant.

The U.S. laundry detergent industry is nearly a $4B (2014 sales) business, with one brand owning 50% market share. For Henkel to have success stealing share, the firm needed a successful awareness campaign. “The Professional” placed in SB50 succeeds. What was your favorite commercial? Use the contact page to let us know.

Best Blogs of the Week #217

Posted by Anu Heda on Feb 01, 2016, in Best Blogs of the Week , tagged with ,

Equity market volatility continues increasing (in the short-term) and the industry’s blogs react precisely. No less than 7 posts this week on the subject. We captured our favorite 2 from Franklin Templeton and Vanguard.

volatility, naissance

Franklin Templeton – Will Market Volatility Put Rate Rises on Hold—for Now? – Taylor’s base-case scenario for 2016 is more optimistic than the market consensus, and he has rising hope for future rises in interest rates.

Russell – Diversification – Not feeling that great? – … the temptation for investors to abandon portfolio diversification and chase the “winning” asset class.

Vanguard – Don’t do something – just stand still. – Intellectually, we know that exiting markets during downturns is counterproductive. But action always seems better than inaction.