Yesterday markets were hammered–BUT it is one day and likely a over-reaction to the FOMC stating they may only cut interest rates 2 times next year. Markets take this as gospel–kind of silly–these words from folks who messed up interest rates for literally years by keeping rates at zero–to think they have a real clue as to what happens next year is only a dream. Maybe they cut 6 times–maybe they don’t cut at all–in a year we will know for sure.
Hopefully folks didn’t panic and start selling yesterday–I know for sure that the seasoned folks reading this didn’t sell–some of the occasional investors that are not seasoned may have panicked and tossed the baby out with the bath water. No doubt there was some pain yesterday, but 1 day doesn’t make a market. Is this the start of something bigger? No one knows–NO ONE. I will play the cards I am dealt and figure out how to address it each day.
As I had mentioned earlier in the week I was frustrated in my attempts to buy the new RiverNorth/DoubleLine 6% term preferred (OPP-C). On Tuesday I did go ahead and establish a small position – small because I want shares a few pennies cheaper–and I will eventually add many more shares. I paid $10.08 (this is a $10 issue) for this small starter position and will update my ‘laundry list’ page sometime today. I also have entered a good til canceled order at $10.02 to try to snag some additional shares.
At this minute (7 am central) we are seeing a bounce in equities – not recouping yesterdays losses by any means, but stability–this should have been expected. Where indexes end the day is anyone’s guess. Will ‘nervous nellies’ take the opportunity to sell into the rally?
Interest rates (the 10 year Treasury) which shot higher yesterday to close at 4.49% yesterday is now trading at 4.52%–this will be interesting to watch. I think any progress made on cutting the future government debt will be met very favorably–continued giant overspending will continue to send rates higher.
Yesterday there was frustration on my part as the website experienced various issues relating to caching. It took a few hours throughout the day to get it rectified. Part of the issue is related to the size of the website—1000’s and 1000’s of pages and it took a new cache add on to rectify the situation. This is another example of how donations from generous folks help to carry the load of the website cost–one can burn through a few hundred dollars real quick when there are issues. We are always extremely thankful for those that donate.
Well let’s get our day going and see where markets take us today.
“I think any progress made on cutting the future government debt will be met very favorably–continued giant overspending will continue to send rates higher.”
If Congress can’t pass a budget, how can it reduce its debt significantly? Just look at the Fed, it will take decades and decades to reduce the $5 trillion it has piled on. More likely Congress will raise the debt ceiling as its hands out tax breaks….Pie in the Sky and wishful thinking ! Much more likely rates go up than down..
Payday, I know what happens in Washington affects all of us with trying to invest and get income to live out our senior years. The budget and the national debt and the laws passed will affect all of this.
It seems to be a false hope that debt limits really mean a line drawn in the sand instead of kicking the can down the road.
I didn’t sell any of my preferreds because Fidelity won’t let me.
Had same problem with Fidelity had to make multiple trades of 25 each.
How about every Fido customer here, give them a call or message (better) about all the crap trading glitches we have to bear? Probably a dream, but if it could change their approach, maybe those of us thinking of moving to or going back to Schwab, etc, (me after just 6months) won’t have to go thru a move –(concerning at this wacky time with gov’t and markets)
It does not seem to be a particularly volatile day for preferred stocks. Did they give you a reason why Fidelity is restricting your trades?
I sold about 40K in securities at Vanguard today. Not a peep from their trading desk, or any glitches or delays.
AGM+E getting kicked around again today. I literally just spoke to their IR MGR. yesterday. She assured me that everything is fine and they are having NO PROBLEMS with their debt. It trading right now at $22.71 which gives you a very nice Yield of 6.32%. Not callable till July of 2025.
Chuck, I’m greedy. Wake me up when it gets closer to my last buy order at 20.50. The good ole days when the market really panics.
I just added a bit more to AGM-F. I will add more if it goes down again. I am not really concerned with a strategy of a possible call so I simply go for max yield.
One has to wonder if we will get a shot at a lot of this type of material at a yield > 6.5% soon.
Shifting those fund to other accounts while shifting some other funds to Fido for the sweeps interest and the arguably better fills. Own several accounts to get the best of both worlds.
Chuck P – for being one of the most solid financial company’s out there were keep getting beat up–I own it–and will continue to own it but wish we didn’t have to take this bs movement.
I just added to several positions. Small amounts to each. Nothing really worth mentioning by name but it is always nice to get a small discount compared to what they were selling for a month or two ago.
Generated income at a new all time high!
Selling? I never sell preferred or babybonds on a panic drop. Unless I’m trading into something else that dropped more. Which happens because market drops are more volatile so there are more trading opportunities. Bring it on!
Imagine Warren Buffett fretting over Berkshire’s “account value.” LOL. I don’t think so.
RCD now trading on Fidelity. $24.94 and appears to be rising.
RCD at $24.85. Kinda’ surprising.
Wilson, not surprising to me. RC has a large debt wall to overcome in 2026. I’m in the wait-and-see mode here.
I won’t say “I told you so” because I didn’t. However I did look at several of my biggest losers yesterday after the close, the 4 to 6% downers. I was surprised to see they were up 30 to 50% after hours. This is way more than the usual after hours pop.
“Buy the dip” is in full force and effect. Within a few hours, The Other Website had a buying opportunity story. Bloomberg aired a pundit and Barrons had an article.
I don’t blame Powell and The Fed. I suspect the Smart Money made its quick money for the year and just used the Fed news to do a “Woody Allen” exit and bank 2024 profits. “Take The Money And Run.” After looking at some positions with 60% gains and now yielding 4%, I can’t say that I disagree. By contrast a safe 4.4% on banked profits looks good.
Random selection of recent gushy optimism (1) 60-40 is dead, put 100% of your retirement money in stocks. Academic study. (2) The market will go up 20% a year next year and beyond. Bloomberg. (3) Buy stocks with good earnings and cash flow like the Mag 7. (4) Mag 7 up 17% on a month, xMag 7 down. (5) Can bitcoin go to 150,000 or 500,000?
Is putting 100% of your retirement money in stocks a wise choice? Can’t say what the future will bring. Back in ~1999, the Wall Street Journal published a feature article declaring that savings accounts were unnecessary in a Bull Market, just put 100% in stocks and sell as needed. That was more or less the exact top of the Dot Com bubble. JMO DYODD.
No panicking on my part. I have a large part of portfolio parked in SGOV which cushioned yesterday’s blow. Overall I was down about 1/4%. Used some money from some recently matured CDs to add to a few positions near the close yesterday. Sticking with high quality and investment grade. I’m in it for the long haul … building up income and not worrying as much about day-to-day portfolio jumps.
My accounts are down but no alarmingly so – less than 2% from their highs. They may drop further but I don’t expect a rout as I have a good mix of short-medium-longer term preferred and BBs as well as common stocks. Will look to deploy what’s left of CDs and Treasuries maturing as well as dividends and interest in the weeks and months ahead.
So far, having been retired almost a year, fortunately, I have not had to touch my capital. That said, my plans are to pull about half of my income out in 2025 and let the other half ride to stay up/ahead of inflation. No plans to touch principle anytime soon. I look at these market fluctuations as opportunities and not danger.
Yazzer, I am in some higher risk investments , yet overall all accounts were down about 1/2% although one was down 1%.
Compared to the different index’s that one account was down half what they were.
Now that being said, I am down from a peak 1 month ago. As Bear says, I remember party like its 1999 and 2000, and 2001
If long term rates don’t come down and the economy slows down and inflation doesn’t drop because tariff’s drive up costs then look out.
The bounce people are talking about this morning is fading fast as people sell into it. They were panicked yesterday and looking to get out with a small loss or lock in some of the gains they had this past year.
Almost everything I own pays a dividend and I(think) is safe so I will just sit back and collect the dividends.
I think it was Tex yesterday that pointed out the trend for low coupon preferred is their price is going down and yield on cost is going up. So the trend can be your friend or your enemy.
You already own and have locked in the income you are seeing your capital gains disappear but the income stays the same.
On the other hand those who want to lock in say a 6% yield for income a lot of the Connecticut Light and Power are close to their 52 week lows AND their all time lows. But, can they go lower?