What Goes Up

Barely-there yields in the bond market have led to a search for other strategies to diversify portfolios with assets that will cushion the blow from any future drop in stocks. Peter van Dooijeweert, managing director of multi-asset solutions at Man Solutions, a division of hedge-fund firm Man Group, joined the latest episode of the “What Goes Up” podcast and talked about some possible alternatives.

Mentioned in this podcast:

In New 60/40 Portfolio, Riskier Hedges Are Displacing U.S. Debt|

Got Lucky, Got It Right: How Newbie Stock Jocks Beat the Market

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Promising results in a coronavirus vaccine test triggered a wild rotation in the stock market this week. Lauren Goodwin, economist and strategist at New York Life Investments, joins the latest episode of the “What Goes Up” podcast to discuss the opportunities and pitfalls for investors looking to position for a post-Covid world.

Mentioned in this podcast:

These Charts Show the Euphoria the Pfizer Vaccine News Created

Rotation Trade Turns to Duck-and-Cover as Coronavirus Runs Amok

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Many investors, like most Americans, have been fixated on the political drama of this year’s presidential election. But when it comes to picking stocks, Jamie Cuellar has kept his eye on the longer term. He’s the manager of the Buffalo Small Cap Fund, which has outperformed 99% of peers in 2020 as well as over the past one, three and five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. 

Cuellar joins the latest episode of the “What Goes Up” podcast to discuss the election, his fund’s strategy, and why small companies are still an opportunity for active fund managers to show their value in a climate that’s more and more dominated by passive and smart-beta strategies. Bloomberg Executive Editor Chris Nagi also joins the show to discuss markets.

Mentioned in this podcast

Forget Biden Vs. Trump: The Incumbent Is Winning in Stock Market

‘Scrap That’: Traders Lose the Plot in Night of 1,000 Twists

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The velocity of money is an attempt to estimate the average number of times a dollar changes hands. It crashed to record lows during the pandemic as the savings rate surged. But it had been trending downward for more than two decades prior to that. Adrian Helfert, a fund manager at Westwood Holdings, discusses what it means for markets. He also talks about how he and investors are positioned for the upcoming election and other hot financial topics. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Investor Bill Gross accused of blaring 'Gilligan's Island' song on loop to torment neighbor

Virus Threat Overshadows Election, Earnings in Market Selloff

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The dollar has been in a slump against major currencies in the last few months, and betting on more declines has become a popular trade. Wells Fargo macro strategist Zachary Griffiths discusses how the election results could interrupt or continue the trend.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Robinhood’s Addictive App Made Trading a Pandemic Pastime 

Banks Brace for ‘Big Bang’ Switch on $80 Trillion Worth of Swaps

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The shift to commission-free trading and the stay-at-home environment of 2020 helped usher a new army of day traders into the stock and equity-options markets. How will this influential cohort affect markets now that they account for a share of volume that rivals hedge funds?

Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab, discusses this, the upcoming elections, and other market topics.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Mysterious Mega-Flows Rotate Through World’s Biggest Tech ETF

Day-Trader Options Action Is Spotted Yet Again in Nasdaq Surge

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An antitrust report by Democratic staffers for the House of Representatives this week sent chills down the spine of investors holding shares of the major U.S. technology and internet companies that have driven the bull market. The report signals the likelihood of heightened regulatory scrutiny over these companies, especially if Democrats win the White House and both chambers of Congress in the November elections in a so-called “blue wave.” Max Gokhman, head of asset allocation at Pacific Life Fund Advisors, shares his thoughts on this and other market developments.

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A stock market that sometimes seems bulletproof in the face of adversity can make it challenging for hedge funds looking for companies to sell short in anticipation of share-price declines. Ben Axler of the activist fund Spruce Point Capital Management discusses where he’s looking for opportunities, including in special-purpose acquisition companies.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Blistering IPO Market Is Rekindling Dot-Com Era Froth Fears

The Tiny Activist Fund That Reaped 24% Return by Unearthing ‘Cockroaches’

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Warren Buffett has referred to the massive cash pile at his company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. as his “elephant gun,” meaning he’s always on the prowl for an opportunity to shoot large sums of money at a big acquisition or investment. While he made a few deals this year as the Covid-19 pandemic roiled markets, he hasn’t been quite as active as he was during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago.

Why is that? Joining this week to discuss why is Larry Pitkowsky, co-managing partner at GoodHaven Capital Management. His GoodHaven Fund counts Berkshire Hathaway as its top holding. Pitkowsky also discusses other holdings in the fund and shares some thoughts on markets and value investing. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Amazon Tells Echelon Fitness to Stop Selling $500 Prime Bike

Can’t-Lose Trades Falter With Inflation Expectations Flagging

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An explosion of trading in equity options among day-traders is suspected of helping to fuel the rally in U.S. stocks this summer. Chris Murphy, co-head of derivatives strategy at Susquehanna International Group, joins this week’s episode of the “What Goes Up” podcast to explain what happened.

Mentioned in this podcast:

The Wild Summer of 2020 Turned Small Investors Into Whales

Reddit's Stock Threads Become a Must-Read on Wall Street

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