Asset Allocation Quarterly
Asset Allocation Quarterly (Second Quarter 2017)
The economy continues on a stable path, along with relatively low levels of inflation. In this cycle, tighter Fed policy involves not only raising short-term rates, but also reducing the size of the Fed’s balance sheet. The magnitude of growth of the Fed’s balance sheet in recent years was unprecedented. Its reduction is also unprecedented.… Read More »
Asset Allocation Quarterly (First Quarter 2017)
The November elections have had a significant impact on the financial markets. It is important to watch how policies from the new administration unfold. We don’t expect new policies to rapidly accelerate economic growth. However, we do expect growth to improve modestly in 2017. Our equity allocations are entirely domestic. We shift allocations toward large… Read More »
Asset Allocation Quarterly (Fourth Quarter 2016)
Although presidential elections gather a lot of attention from investors, we believe the specific person or party getting elected in this cycle may be less important than the forces driving the elections. The Fed is likely to raise rates gradually and we don’t expect the tighter policy to create a recession. Our equity allocations remain… Read More »
Asset Allocation Quarterly (Third Quarter 2016)
The U.S. economy is likely to remain in its low-growth trend and we don’t foresee a recession, given that the Fed has become less inclined to raise rates. Brexit should be largely transitory for Britain, but may reveal a variety of weaknesses within the European Union. The U.S. presidential elections reveal a myriad of changing… Read More »
Asset Allocation Quarterly (Second Quarter 2016)
Economic growth will likely remain slow, but stable. We expect the Fed to proceed gradually in raising rates. The labor market continues to strengthen, with more workers entering the labor force, but wage growth remains weak. We expect domestic growth to be higher and more stable than most foreign economies. Therefore, we maintain a significant… Read More »
Asset Allocation Quarterly (First Quarter 2016)
Low global growth rates and tighter Fed policy are combining to lower financial market return potential, while increasing overall volatility. We believe U.S. growth will remain low and the Fed will raise rates gradually. At this point we do not foresee a recession. The low growth rate in the U.S. will likely be higher than… Read More »
Asset Allocation Quarterly (Fourth Quarter 2015)
The Federal Reserve decided not to raise rates in the third quarter. Attention now turns to if, when and how it will raise rates going forward. Although we expect the Fed to move gradually and not cause a recession, the likelihood of policy errors has increased. We continue to believe both growth and inflation are… Read More »
Asset Allocation Quarterly (Third Quarter 2015)
Significant disruptions or financial stress from Greece’s debt problems appear to have been avoided, in the near term. However, structural problems that led to the Greek crisis have yet to be properly addressed and we expect the issue to emerge again in the future. It will be important to monitor how Greek creditors and other… Read More »