Your Balanced Portfolio

[bimetalaupt]

Aug 3, 2016 15:50:07 GMT -5 The Virginian said:

There are some thoughts that the Governments way of measuring GDP is Outdated given our changes to our economy over the past years and the "real" GDP is actually more like 3%. Way above my head - but does deserve some thought and discussion.

Yes, At best the GDP has been wrong at a stable error rate.  M3 vs DJIA is real good for est. stocks prices  future.  Who knows what increase in savings from zero in 2006 to 5.3% in 2016 will do to increased protective. If prices per unit keep lower for value then? Look at diamonds: real natural perfect "D flawless" vs manmade .

Just a thought,
Bruce  

[Ombud]

I feel so much better for being 10 to 15% cash. Thanks guys. May be cashing out wasn't such a bad idea

[The Virginian]

Aug 4, 2016 12:22:04 GMT -5 Ombud said:

I feel so much better for being 10 to 15% cash. Thanks guys. May be cashing out wasn't such a bad idea

When the correction does come you can take advantage of some great buys hopefully ! Nothing better than taking advantage of a sale.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Aug 3, 2016 16:48:03 GMT -5 bimetalaupt said:

Aug 3, 2016 15:50:07 GMT -5 The Virginian said:

There are some thoughts that the Governments way of measuring GDP is Outdated given our changes to our economy over the past years and the "real" GDP is actually more like 3%. Way above my head - but does deserve some thought and discussion.

Yes, At best the GDP has been wrong at a stable error rate.  M3 vs DJIA is real good for est. stocks prices  future.  Who knows what increase in savings from zero in 2006 to 5.3% in 2016 will do to increased protective. If prices per unit keep lower for value then? Look at diamonds: real natural perfect "D flawless" vs manmade .

Just a thought,
Bruce  

,

The most recent GDP report was done using the revised metrics, and they also back dated the revisions and adjusted GDP accordingly. Without housing the US would be in a recession. The revisions also show that Obama has the worst economic record of any President.

However, the real problem is that negative interest rates are - in fact - fraud. So, the CDO market that caused the 2008 fall out was roughly 1.5 trillion dollars. Right now there are roughly 12 trillion negative interest rate bonds issued, and the government debt market is about 70 trillion. Even more interesting when you factor in that the 700 trillion+ derivatives market is inexplicably linked to the bond market.

Hard assets and fuel!

Great points

[Ombud]

My venture into bonds!!

CXA: tried to enter 'sell all' order, apparently it's not tradeable😠😕😧

PWX: wondering about it in like of etrade & CXA issues

USATX: still like it

Any insight @di, ModE98, bimetalaupt, or Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger? Wondering about taking whatever I eventually recoup and adding to USATX ~~ Morningstar has a 5☆🏆 bronze listing whatever the bronze means. It's not on USBLX or PWZ

Edited: what's going on with State Street?

[Deleted]

Ombud

Tried looking up CXA: couldn't find anything; found a CXAC with a $0.00 price? I would call your broker and ask what is going on; and if you are taking about a large amount of money in the position, I would call them immediately.

Looked up PWX and found: Providence and Worcester Railroad Co: NASDAQ: PWX? If this is that to me it looks really sketchy. Nearly no trading day to day, a proposed sale which looks equally sketchy and lawyers coming out of the woodwork. Something smells bad.

USATX upon looking actually tied to a Bond Fund. As should be noted, I have said many times I am not a fan of Bonds, I have dabbled a bit before; but mostly avoid.

That said; seems MORNINGSTAR likes it, giving it high Stars across the periods. Did notice that the 10 COST (I assume fees for whatever) is roughly $700; I don't know how that affects or plays against any Coupon payments. Another thing I noticed was that since Jan this year (Growth of $10K), this has only gained roughly $400 against $10k ($10k in in Jan 2016, worth roughly $10,400 now {Before Fees, Taxes, ETC.}.

 

[Ombud]

CXA is was real. I have had 20k there. A little concerned but it's delisted 😯

I bought 5k USATX around May 2016. Up only 161 but getting additional 13 a month.

I am trying to learn about bonds so I picked these 3.

[clarkrl2]

Ombud

According to this article from Barron's State Street is closing 12 of their etfs including CXA. They intend to liquid the assests and distribute the proceeds among the holders Aug. 31. I think you should come out okay as long as there is a decent market for the muni bonds in the CXA portfolio. Most etfs trade very close to the NAV. This fund had 149 million in assets. Here is a link to the article.

blogs.barrons.com/focusonfunds/2016/08/03/state-street-will-close-12-etfs/?mod=yahoobarrons&ru=yahoo

[Ombud]

Now I'm wondering what daily trading level I should watch out for in my other ETFs:

SCHA
SCHB
SCHD
SPY
PWZ - selling Monday as its trading under 100k a day, my new limit
USATX

Individual stocks are so much easier!

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Aug 26, 2016 22:44:17 GMT -5 Ombud said:

Now I'm wondering what daily trading level I should watch out for in my other ETFs:

SCHA
SCHB
SCHD
SPY
PWZ - selling Monday as its trading under 100k a day, my new limit
USATX

Individual stocks are so much easier!

USATX is performing well over the last year, over 10 at 4.62% dividends are close. One thing by the chart is that it has done well during rough times so it does technically balance out the portfolio.

[Ombud]

According to Schwab rep, above link, & SSGA last week, I should have had the funds in my account today. Well I got a dividend of $148 today but that's hardly the money I expected to see.😠😤😞

[bimetalaupt]

Aug 31, 2016 20:40:17 GMT -5 Ombud said:

According to Schwab rep, above link, & SSGA last week, I should have had the funds in my account today. Well I got a dividend of $148 today but that's hardly the money I expected to see.😠😤😞

I have for decades used dividends to reinvest.  This reduces my risk and adds to the inherited amount for Eric.  When you pass on the cost is the price of the day you pass on.    

[Ombud]

Normally yes. But State Street is fairly large and I can't imagine them cashing out cxa and eventually not getting the funds for it. It's just that it should be closer to 20k then $148 deposited by August 30th

[Deleted]

Ombud

Hopefully, you will get the rest of your missing money. And hopefully it will be sooner, rather than later.

Yet another thing I dislike about Funds (ETF), they can close abruptly and getting the money back can be tricky; the when (if) explanations range from strange to "s** & shineola". And then of course one is always subject to the defined "either/or" within the prospectus of the particular fund with regards to the liquidation value of the given fund. 

[Ombud]

I'm looking at T instead of another bond. 😐

[Deleted]

Ombud

Both T and VZ seem to be perennial favorites in the Telecom Sector for a lot of folks. LOL; the Telecom version of Coke v. Pepsi..

[bimetalaupt]

Sept 1, 2016 13:52:21 GMT -5 @di said:

Ombud

Both T and VZ seem to be perennial favorites in the Telecom Sector for a lot of folks. LOL; the Telecom version of Coke v. Pepsi..

For stock only: I like 30 year T Bonds.  Zero risk of default!!!
On the other hand JNJ credit rating Is great!!

Just a thought,
Bruce

[Ombud]

SSGA pd off CXA and I actually got a little more than 500 more than I expected (increase from assuming 24.80 + that extra dividend). Confused. Last bid was 24.99 but NAV turned out to be NAV 25.27 😏