Asset Allocation Bi-Weekly
Confluence Investment Management offers various asset allocation products which are managed using “top down,” or macro, analysis. We publish asset allocation thoughts on a bi-weekly basis, updating the piece every other Monday.
Asset Allocation Weekly – This Recovery is Different (August 27, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF Since the Federal Reserve was granted independence in 1951 there have been 11 recessions. Although each recession and recovery are somewhat unique, analysts tend to compare them for clues about future economic activity and policy actions. In terms of monetary policy, Chair Powell has staked out a dovish… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly – The Impact of Older Americans on the Labor Market (August 20, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF In analyzing the path for the economy, an important factor is separating the temporary effects of the pandemic from those that are longer lasting. The debate over whether inflation will be transitory is tied to this determination. The impact on the labor markets is another element. One change… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly – Intellectual Property Takes Over Fixed Investment (August 13, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF It’s probably no surprise to anyone that information processing has become a bigger and bigger part of the economy over the last several decades. By now, we’ve all gotten used to seeing new kinds of computers and telephones every year, and we’ve struggled with learning new software programs… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly (August 6, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF In last week’s report, we updated our views on long-duration Treasuries, using our standard 10-year T-note model. This week we are going to examine the impact of policy on long-duration Treasuries. First, let’s start with the model. The two most important variables in the model are fed funds… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly (July 30, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF One of the key developments in financial markets recently has been the quick rebound in bond prices and the associated drop in yields. As investors started to sense faster economic growth and the prospect of rising inflation in the first quarter, they eagerly sold down their bond holdings,… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly (July 23, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF The availability of ample investment capital is vital for economic growth in both rich, well-developed countries and poorer developing nations. However, if the available capital is poorly utilized and/or debt levels get too high, the results can be quite negative. In such a situation, economic growth can slow… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly (July 16, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF The pandemic-related expanded benefits for the unemployed are expected to end in September. States that have ended the booster early have seen a sharper decline in initial claims than states that haven’t ended them. Although the end of enhanced employment benefits could help resolve the labor shortage, there… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly (July 9, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF In our report from June 25, we discussed the data from the Financial Accounts of the U.S., otherwise known by its original name, the Flow of Funds Report. There is a section of the report that comes out a couple weeks after the initial release known as the… Read More »
Asset Allocation Weekly (July 2, 2021)
by the Asset Allocation Committee | PDF (Due to the Independence Day holiday, there will not be an accompanying podcast and chart book this week. The multimedia offerings associated with this report will resume next week, July 9.) The Wall Street Journal Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar’s value relative to seven major currencies, has… Read More »