smithers you probably know more about US government debt than 90% of Americans. The varieties of bonds aren't too complicated, it's the tax considerations and where you can buy them that are confusing.
I like seeing these kinds of bumps in gold and bonds, because they tell us something very important: despite the rise of cryptocurrencies, low interest rates etc they still operate exactly as the Permanent Portfolio needs them to, during times of market stress.
Next time I check the portfolio, I'll rebalance if indicated or buy lagging assets with the new cash. With no hesitation. And I'm in no hurry!
“These three new ETFs are designed to address the needs that our clients tell us are most important to them,” Schwab also notes. “We are pleased to offer these new low cost ETFs now, as investors are increasingly looking to bond ETFs as a potential source of diversification, liquidity and income.
The Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF SCHQ, -1.02% follows the Bloomberg Barclays US Long Treasury Index and of the three ETFs highlighted here, may be the one destined for the best near-term performance if the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates once or twice before the end of this year.
“Long government funds concentrate on bonds backed by the U.S. government or by government-linked agencies,” according to Schwab. “Because these funds have durations of more than six years, they are more sensitive to interest rates, and thus riskier, than funds that have shorter durations.”
We're now at that weird, sick place where 1-year Jumbo CDs from my local credit union have APR 2.06%, for which you'd have to go out to 20+ years on a US Treasury (sigh).
The inversion of the Treasury yield curve disappeared today. The entire curve is now positive from the 3 month T bill to the 30 year T bond. I first noticed the present inversion between the 2 and 3 year T bill in Dec. 2018. Hard to say whether this development portends an end to lower interest rates or the likelihood of a recession.
“Groucho Marx wrote:
A stock trader asked him, "Groucho, where do you put all your money?" Groucho was said to have replied, "In Treasury bonds", and the trader said, "You can't make much money on those." Groucho said, "You can if you have enough of them!"
jhogue wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2019 11:27 am
Hard to say whether this development portends an end to lower interest rates or the likelihood of a recession.
Well, given that the yield curve inversion so far hasn't predicted anything, I'd say you're almost right. Except substitute "impossible" for "hard".
p.s. ochotona you are hereby forevermore "bondtholomew"! Love it.