MORE HEADLINES
Economic Update
Despite sluggish economic activity, consumer sentiment increased this month.
Domestic Equity
Investor sentiment improved with better-than-expected corporate earnings reports.
International Equity
International equity markets posted strong gains in April.
Fixed Income
Fixed income performance for the month of April can be summarized with one word, risk.
Real Estate Securities
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) significantly outperformed the broad equity markets in April.
Hedge Funds
Volatility levels remain at heighted levels when contrasted to the five-year average.
‘FLATION WARS – DEFLATION, REFLATION, INFLATION. IS NOW THE TIME TO BUY INFLATION PROTECTION?
The U.S. recession that officially began in December 2007 lingers into its 16th month and market conversation has begun to shift from concern about another Great Depression to the “green shoots” of a potential economic recovery. We believe the timing is right to discuss deflationary forces currently at work, the reflationary efforts of the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury, and the potential for inflation beyond the near term. In conjunction with this effort, we will also consider the role of Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) in portfolios, and communicate our belief that the proper time to buy an insurance policy, or hedge against an unforeseen event, is before you or your portfolio becomes sick, not afterwards, when premiums are much higher.
