Wednesday, May 31, 2017

How Long Can the Fed Keep the Boom Going?

How Long Can the Fed Keep the Boom Going?



"The US bond market trades at a quite high valuation. For instance, the 10-year US Treasury bond presents a price earnings (PE) ratio of 43. In other words: It takes 43 years for the investor to recoup the bond’s purchase price through coupon payments; the bond market’s PE ratio even went up to 68 in June 2012 and July 2016, respectively.

At the same time, the PE ratio of the stock market is at 23, significantly higher than its long-term average of close to 17 for the period from 1973 to 2017. That said, the 10-year Treasury bond has become more hazardous compared to stocks. This is exactly what the PE ratio tells us: The higher (lower) the PE ratio, the higher (lower) the investor’s risk.................."

"..........Given current bond and stock market valuations, investors seem to be fairly confident that the Fed will succeed in keeping the boom going, that the central bank will not overdo it in terms of raising interest rates. And yes, perhaps central bankers have learned a great deal in recent years, having become true maestros in holding up the make believe world of fiat money.

The investor should be aware of the damages caused by fiat money — for instance, boom and bust. At the same time, he should not run for the exit prematurely: The fiat money system might be held up for longer than some may fear and others might hope............"[ my emphasis]

Original article in full here.


Financial Safety Services commentary:

What is next: Recession? Inflation? Deflation? Stock market boom? 

Fact: nobody knows.

Wondering, worrying about what the Fed, the president, congress etc. etc. may, or may not do, [ or about what it/they have already done], or where "the market" will be 6 months, a year or more from today, is an unnecessary waste of your precious time!

Danger Sign


However, if you are personally worried about what might be coming next, then that is a sure sign that you are dangerously overexposed in [either] stocks, bonds, cash, gold, real estate, or whatever.

2 hard -learned lessons of investment/speculation reality:


[1]: nobody, but nobody can reliably, consistently predict future economic conditions.

[2]: It's wholly unnecessary for the individual to
have to try to predict future economic conditions, or to utilize the services of someone who claims to be able to do that, in order to secure one's precious savings against inflation, deflation, recession etc..

See: "Got Money You Can Afford To Lose?"

Regards, onebornfree