Stock market correlation leads to ‘closet’ indexing – InvestmentNews 09-30-12

Salient to Investors: A fund is highly correlated to its benchmark index if its R-squared reaches 90: at 95, it is considered a ”closet” index fund. The steady rise in correlations among all stocks is making it more difficult than ever for actively managed funds to differentiate themselves from their benchmarks. Morningstar

READ MORE...

How To Prepare For The Bear – Seeking Alpha 09-26-12

Salient to Investors: Investors will soon be more concerned about missing out on the rising markets than preparing for the next leg of the bear market. Gold will make a serious run at $2,000. Short-selling is a great strategy but risks mandatory buy-ins. Read the full article at http://seekingalpha.com/article/890301-how-to-prepare-for-the-bear?source=intbrokers_regular

READ MORE...

Why Equities Will Continue To Trend Higher – Seeking Alpha 09-26-12

Salient to Investors: Equity markets will trend higher even if economic activity continues slow for a prolonged period. Any market correction over 10% is a buying opportunity. Asset markets are critical in the current environment and markets will not crash or collapse for the foreseeable future. The banking system has been flooded with enough

READ MORE...

Beyond Wall St., Curbs on High-Speed Trades Proceed – The New York Times 09-26-12

Salient to Investors: Germany advanced legislation that would force high-speed trading firms to register with the government and limit their ability to rapidly place and cancel orders. The European Commission agreed on even broader rules for all of the EU if governments also give their approval. Celent estimates high-speed trading accounts for 30

READ MORE...

Middle-income Americans wing it on financial decisions – InvestmentNews 09-23-12

Salient to Investors: A Consumer Federation of America and Primerica study says middle-income Americans roll the dice when making financial decisions, leading to expensive financial mistakes. 67% of people with household annual income between $30,000 and $100,000 have made at least one really bad financial decision, costing them an average $23,000. But only

READ MORE...