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Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:41 pm
by Smith1776
One thing that I really love about the PP is how it makes it so that I don't have to think about interest rates, yield curve inversion, credit risk, or anything of the sort.

A while ago I was talking to a few coworkers and they kept trying to game up strategies and discuss what the yield curve and interest rate environment meant for their investment approaches. Naturally, everyone had their own opinion. People wanted to dial down their duration. Then all of the sudden there was lamentation that the long bonds were actually outperforming. But was it now too late?

With the PP we can just sit back and relax. 8)

Yes, I'm guilty of tinkering with the stock allocation as per my latest post in the stock scream room, but I'm cool as a cucumber in most respects.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:57 am
by Kriegsspiel
ochotona wrote:
Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:55 pm
WOLF THINKS WE'RE ALL GETTING PLAYED BY THE BOND PLAYERS

https://youtu.be/irsgR3u256E
I like that guys voice. He does a great job aping El-Erian's speech impediment ;D
What if Trump just needs low rates so he can service his own business debt? Occam's Razor, people.. the man is greedy, self-serving son-of-a-binch. He frickin' was marketing Doral the other day in press conferences!
Wouldn't the simplest explanation be that Trump just wants the economy to be ok during his tenure? I would think the fact that he's a businessman would add weight to that explanation. So even if he is greedy and self-serving (which both seem true), his interests are aligned with America's, right? Or at the least, he's kicking the can down the road like everyone else excepting Volcker. Am I missing something?

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:39 am
by pmward
ochotona wrote:
Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:55 pm
WOLF THINKS WE'RE ALL GETTING PLAYED BY THE BOND PLAYERS

https://youtu.be/irsgR3u256E

We've gotten played before... why not now? What if this recession talk is partly just bond traders talking their book and jawboning yield down? The hard data is slowing, but we're not in a recession.

The U.S. treasury bond market is simply too large and too liquid to be manipulated like that. I mean, even the Fed has a hard time controlling the bond market. No we are not in a recession, but defensives like bonds usually rally BEFORE the recession. Matter of fact, it's usually after the yield curve begins to steepen that the recession is officially declared. We have not had a steepening yet. So yes, it makes total sense that we are not declared to be in a recession yet. There are so many deflationary pressures globally, and global central banks that keep pushing rates lower and lower. The U.S. has no choice but to ease, because not easing is essentially tightening when the rest of the world keeps going more and more negative. This is what is really pushing our yields down, it's more of a global phenomenon than anything else. And as much as I do believe a recession is coming in the short to medium term, I also would not be surprised if it didn't come, and if this whole inversion was simply led by foreigners chasing yield. I do not think the bond rally is overdone just yet. I think we still have a lot of room for a true blowoff top to end the almost 40 year old bull market. 30 year bond sub 1% would not surprise me at all by the time this whole cycle is said and done. Matter of fact, I would be surprised if we didn't get below 1% by the end of the cycle.

Let us not also forget that the large amount of government debt that we have pretty much guarantees that the Fed needs to keep rates artificially low. So, even though bonds have come a long way, there is a very limited downside potential. For now, the Fed still has our backs, so bonds are still a safe trade and there is nothing to worry about aside from AT MOST maybe a short term correction. So long story short, I do not think that your fears are justified. The real risk to bonds is if/when inflation actually starts to pick up, because the Fed will be forced to keep rates low to allow servicing of the debt, and that will cause some chaos and destruction. But I do not see inflation in the near term, especially with the trade war, which even though it does increase prices, it is a tax, and taxes at the end of the day have a tightening effect on the economy.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:00 am
by ochotona
Kriegsspiel wrote:
Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:57 am
Wouldn't the simplest explanation be that Trump just wants the economy to be ok during his tenure? I would think the fact that he's a businessman would add weight to that explanation. So even if he is greedy and self-serving (which both seem true), his interests are aligned with America's, right? Or at the least, he's kicking the can down the road like everyone else excepting Volcker. Am I missing something?
Yes, a President's personal fortune should absolutely 100% be aligned with that of the Nation. I would go so far as to say his or her portfolio should be like Jack Bogle's was, 100% USA domestic. Nothing ex-US. Aligned with the USA, but no hint, fear, or even possibility that the portfolio should ever be seeking special situations created by the President himself while in office, especially which pit one group of investors against another.

The thing missing is that Trump refused to place his assets in a blind trust before he took office as Presidents before him have done, therefore he didn't create a firewall which prevents even the appearance of conflict of interest. As any corporate communications manager / crisis manager will tell you, the very appearance of wrong-doing can be as bad as the actual fact. The appearance can damage a brand or company even in the absence of any actual wrong-doing.

So once again, Trumpster harvests more bitter self-sown fruit, then basically blames others for the astringent taste. This idea is all over social media, and he is profiting off of his tweets through proxies. I am sure we'll hear more from the SEC after he leaves office. They've got to be quietly archiving trade data just before and after major tweets and tantrums and looking for patterns and network associations. That's what they do.

I want to know to whom he really owes money. Which NY mobsters? Which Russian mobsters? But he refused to disclose his portfolio and tax returns, as other Presidents have done. What has he been hiding? Really, for God's sake. I'll tell everyone here what I own, by % basis. In fact, I have. Why can't the President? He can't it would be incriminating.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 12:45 pm
by Kriegsspiel
ochotona wrote:
Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:00 am
The thing missing is that Trump refused to place his assets in a blind trust before he took office as Presidents before him have done, therefore he didn't create a firewall which prevents even the appearance of conflict of interest. As any corporate communications manager / crisis manager will tell you, the very appearance of wrong-doing can be as bad as the actual fact. The appearance can damage a brand or company even in the absence of any actual wrong-doing.

So once again, Trumpster harvests more bitter self-sown fruit, then basically blames others for the astringent taste. This idea is all over social media, and he is profiting off of his tweets through proxies. I am sure we'll hear more from the SEC after he leaves office. They've got to be quietly archiving trade data just before and after major tweets and tantrums and looking for patterns and network associations. That's what they do.
What are the best examples of Trump manipulating and profiting? Maybe you have some bookmarked?

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 12:50 pm
by Kriegsspiel
And I do want to add that I'd be super surprised if Trump wasn't doing something shady. I think pretty much every President in recent history has done shady shit while in office and outside of it.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:25 pm
by ochotona
Kriegsspiel wrote:
Mon Sep 02, 2019 12:50 pm
And I do want to add that I'd be super surprised if Trump wasn't doing something shady. I think pretty much every President in recent history has done shady shit while in office and outside of it.
Of course, I have no proof. No one does, because it's all hidden. But there is such a yuuuge opportunity for him (or any world leader) to profit off of market-moving statements and actions. That is why it is important for the American President to even be above the appearance of wrongdoing, to be so transparent that even suspicion by the reasonably skeptical opposition is impossible.

The assets have to be in a blind trust. Totally locked-up, passive, untradeable, 100% Total USA Stock Market buy and hold until out of office, live or die with the rest of us. Does anyone disagree with that?

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:29 pm
by Ad Orientem
Kriegsspiel wrote:
Mon Sep 02, 2019 12:45 pm
ochotona wrote:
Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:00 am
The thing missing is that Trump refused to place his assets in a blind trust before he took office as Presidents before him have done, therefore he didn't create a firewall which prevents even the appearance of conflict of interest. As any corporate communications manager / crisis manager will tell you, the very appearance of wrong-doing can be as bad as the actual fact. The appearance can damage a brand or company even in the absence of any actual wrong-doing.

So once again, Trumpster harvests more bitter self-sown fruit, then basically blames others for the astringent taste. This idea is all over social media, and he is profiting off of his tweets through proxies. I am sure we'll hear more from the SEC after he leaves office. They've got to be quietly archiving trade data just before and after major tweets and tantrums and looking for patterns and network associations. That's what they do.
What are the best examples of Trump manipulating and profiting? Maybe you have some bookmarked?
Well he is constantly promoting his resorts and taking VIP visitors there, at huge expense to taxpayers (and profit to the Trump Org). When he first took office China suddenly approved scores of trademarks and other concessions related to Trump, his family and businesses. My guess is that they may be experiencing a bad case of buyers regret right now. Its common knowledge that those who patronize his businesses get preferred treatment or access in his administration. A quick Google turned up endless cases of apparent self dealing and/or apparent conflicts of interest. He is facing scores of lawsuits including some he has settled for undisclosed amounts of money. His charity the Trump Foundation was basically a tax dodge and scam where he routinely used money for personal indulgences. The state of NY shut it down. I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that this is the most corrupt president in US History.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:44 am
by flyingpylon
Ad Orientem wrote:
Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:29 pm
I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that this is the most corrupt president in US History.
Which criteria should be used to determine "the most corrupt president in US history" and which should be ignored?

Your post is filled with phrases like "common knowledge", "a quick Google", "apparent" and "basically"... do those seem like reasonable standards by which to determine the most corruption?

Does the mere existence of lawsuits or settled lawsuits indicate corruption?

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:30 am
by dualstow
(Quote is from Gold Scream, not here)
ochotona wrote:
Thu Sep 05, 2019 9:40 am
Gold and long Treasuries will be under assault for a while...
The fed is lining up another small rate cut, but I guess other factors are weightier right now.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 3:03 pm
by ochotona

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:14 pm
by ochotona
Japanification, that's why.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:40 am
by jhogue
The key question for potential EE bond investors this:

Do you have a 20 year plan for your money? If you don’t, then you should never buy EE bonds. If you do have a 20 year plan (or longer), then EE bonds might have a useful role in your portfolio.

Pugchief’s worry that rates may rise above 4.00% reminds me of the warnings I got from “professional” financial advisors not to buy 30 year T bonds when I shifted to the HBPP back in 2013: The conventional wisdom then—and now too—was that interest rates "have no place to go but up!"

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 10:47 am
by ochotona
Given my age, I can only really buy $30,000 of these things, I own none now. 2019, 2020, 2021 then I turn 60 in 2021. I don't mind betting on really low inflation risk with less than 2% of my portfolio. If I'm wrong, no great harm done. If the 30 year goes stays at 2%, I'm happy. It'll just be more deep cash.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 4:23 pm
by jhogue
I certainly do not consider EE bonds to be “a pointless waste.” A couple of specific, real world examples:

1. The EE bonds we used to pay for our daughter’s college back in 2007-2011 paid 6% p.a. and were both federal tax free and tax deferred. The accumulated interest was also exempt from all state and local taxes. Considering how badly the stock market crashed in 2008-2009, I was pretty happy with our EE bonds’ return ON principal as well as their return OF principal.

2. The current crop of EE bonds, which will return 3.53% if held for 20 years, were first offered in 2003. They achieve their doubling effect less than four years from now in 2023. I see no indication that those who invested in EE bonds then are unhappy with their performance now. Indeed, with 10 years currently at 1.55%; 20 years at 1.83%; and 30 year T bonds hovering around 2.00%, if anything, EE bond investors are a pretty smug bunch right now.

EE bonds are just another tool in the financial toolbox. You just have to make sure you are using the right tool for the right job.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 5:27 pm
by dualstow
I’m glad for this thread. i have a bunch of these that I’m supposed to redeem and i keep putting it off and forgetting about them. I-bonds, too.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 7:39 pm
by jhogue
You are welcome.

And fortunately we have MangoMan around to keep us on our toes by keeping up to date on our US savings bonds, which, quite literally, have no place to go but up.

It sort of reminds me of the children's story "The Little Engine That Could":
Starting out is a lot of "I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...." To be finally followed by "I knew I could... I knew I could... I knew I could...."

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:53 am
by Smith1776
lol and there's me: the Canadian.

I REALLY feel left out when reading these conversations about EE bonds, I bonds, and the like.

I read these threads and I'm just like "What are these dudes going on about anyway???" :D

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 7:50 am
by Kriegsspiel
;D 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.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 3:40 am
by Smith1776
Kriegsspiel wrote:
Sat Sep 07, 2019 7:50 am
;D smithers
Man, I'm rolling with that s%#t.

smithers.jpg
smithers.jpg (37.46 KiB) Viewed 12756 times

Everyone on the board now has permission to call me smithers.

God I love this forum.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:14 pm
by Ad Orientem
Real US debt levels could be a shocking 2,000% of GDP

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/09/real-us ... gests.html

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:49 pm
by ochotona
I felt stupid when I sold my TLT a few days ago.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 3:41 pm
by Cortopassi
Now you feel good?? ;)

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:20 pm
by Cortopassi
TLT sure has come back down to earth. These cycles are quite interesting to watch. Like it picks up speed when rolling downhill.

Re: The Bond Dream Room

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:14 pm
by Ad Orientem
Volatility seems to be the new norm. To some degree I'm used to that with stocks and gold. But bonds should not be bouncing all over the place.