In response to worries about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), global stock markets have continued to fall sharply this week, while the prices of core government bonds, widely seen as safe-haven assets in uncertain times, have risen steeply. Although market activity is volatile, and additional incidents of the virus have been reported, our viewpoint | Read More +
Our Thinking
Our Perspective: On Yesterday’s Market Sell-Off and Coronavirus
Yesterday, global stock markets fell sharply. The Dow, for instance, was down 3.56%, and the S&P 500 Index dropped 3.35%. We would like to briefly address the reasons and share some of our immediate thoughts about portfolio positioning. The most frequently cited culprit for the sell-off was the heightened concern that emerged over the weekend | Read More +
Insights: Coronavirus Worries Stocks in January, But Lasting Economic Effects Likely Limited
View a printable version Overview In January, most major stock indices retreated given worries about the global economic implications of the coronavirus. The monthly return for the S&P 500 was largely unchanged at -0.04%, the Russell 2000 (U.S. small-company stocks) fell 3.21%, and the MSCI ACWI ex-USA (non-U.S. stocks) lost 2.69%. In contrast, core U.S. | Read More +
Sage 2020 Market Outlook
Printable version Condensed series of bullets Introduction 2019 was a positive year for virtually all major asset classes globally and, overall, a year that widely exceeded expectations. At the end of 2018, the Fed was raising interest rates, recession fears were widespread due to the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economic superpowers, | Read More +
Our Perspective: The Importance of Maintaining Perspective
The return of volatility in the markets, the threat of a heightened trade skirmish, and the hit the technology sector took on the heels of challenges to Facebook and Amazon, have kept market commentators busy churning out vivid headlines and analyses. It can be unusually difficult in moments like these for investors to hold onto | Read More +
Our Perspective: The Value of Independence
Print a PDF version of this post. Last week The Wall Street Journal reported that the probe into how Wells Fargo has systemically misled clients now extends to practices in its wealth management division. Bloomberg recently reported that J.P. Morgan’s “failure to properly inform some…clients about conflicts of interest has resulted in a record $30 million whistle-blower award.” And | Read More +
Our Perspective: On Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies in general and Bitcoin in particular have been in the news recently, including daily articles in the Wall Street Journal. It seems like every day a different person has an opinion on this new, highly unpredictable currency. In our view, although the blockchain technology that underlies Bitcoin as a cryptocurrency has the potential to | Read More +
Our Perspective: The Value of Discomfort
One of the hardest things to learn as an investor is to be comfortable with discomfort. The logic flies in the face of most everything we are taught as well as our fundamental instincts for self-preservation. But to be successful as an investor, you have to accept the fact that you will feel uncomfortable. The | Read More +
Our Perspective: Acting With Independence
The Wall Street Journal and many other news outlets, recently reported that Morgan Stanley would be pulling Vanguard mutual funds from its platform. As a result, advisers at the brokerage firm will no longer be able to recommend Vanguard open-end mutual funds to their clients, regardless of whether they may be the best investment option | Read More +
Our Perspective: Geopolitical Conflict and Market Movement
Although stock markets have moved higher since the U.S. presidential election, the growing number of headlines focused on unrest in places like Syria and North Korea has some investors thinking they should head to the sidelines with their equity exposure. Nobody enjoys rising volatility, but trying to time the markets’ reaction to geo-political events is | Read More +
