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Individual Investors Back off Stocks in January

The latest AAII asset allocation survey showed a slight decline in bullishness about the equity markets. Stock holdings declined to 65.6%, down 2.7% from the previous month while bond and cash holdings were up 2.7%. The 65.6% allocation is shy of the highs seen in the late 90’s and much of the 2000’s, but still well above the historical average of 60%.

Debunking the Myth that a Gold Based Monetary System Leads to Higher Growth & Greater Stability

One of the most common arguments in favor of the gold standard is that the USA had very high rates of growth under a gold standard. The era that’s commonly cited is the 1800’s. The argument, in essence, is that gold is a more stable form of money that won’t lead to inflationary booms and busts. But this isn’t always presented in a very balanced manner.

Conventional Correlation between Stock and Bond Markets Returns

“Historically, rising equity prices have been associated with falling bond prices (rising bond yields), as stronger economic fundamentals drove investors to stocks and away from bonds, and weaker economic growth produced the reverse. However, over the past few years, equity and bond prices began moving together as both markets were inflated by floods of liquidity from accommodative U.S. monetary policy, which distorted the traditional relationship.