Portfolio Economics

[...] obstacle is expense ratios. In the United States, the average equity mutual fund carries an expense ratio of 1.40% per year, according to the Investment Company Institute. As with a load, so it is [...]

[...] . A good, low-cost option is the iShares MSCI Frontier 100 ETF (NYSE: FM). This ETF carries an expense ratio of 0.79%. While this expense ratio is rather high for an ETF, the cost is justified by the [...]

[...] -property sectors, ranging from shopping malls to apartment complexes. This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.10%, according to Morningstar. Another alternative is the Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (NYSE: [...]

[...] . Concerning energy, a good choice is the Vanguard Energy ETF (NYSE: VDE). This ETF carries an expense ratio of only 0.14%. The Vanguard Energy ETF tracks an index made up of energy-related companies. [...]

[...] the 2008 financial crisis, Merger helped to dampen volatility for investors. The following graph shows the fund's performance compared to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY) between 2004 and 2008: [...]

[...] , crude oil prices have declined by almost 40%, according to data from YCharts. The following graph shows the price of crude for the last six months: As of this writing, the national average gas price [...]

[...] Monetary Fund. Economic growth in China has slowed down recently. The following graph shows the growth rate of gross domestic product in China: Data Source: YCharts and National [...]

[...] , after stalling in the cold, the U.S. growth engine is now revving up. The following graph shows the four-week moving average of initial state unemployment claims: The four-week moving [...]

[...] . Nonetheless, the Federal Reserve continues to fret about weakness or "slack" in the labor market. The headline unemployment rate of 5.9% conceals some basic weaknesses in the labor market. [...]

[...] policy deliberations unfolded. While Fed Chairwoman Yellen cited continued slack in the labor market, she also noted that the labor market might be stronger than it appears. If the labor market [...]

[...] Fed’s baseline forecast. Ms. Yellen refers to this 1% difference as "slack" in the labor market. The Fed’s policy is to eliminate labor-market slack and return the U.S. economy to full [...]

[...] rate has dipped to 6.3% -- its lowest level since September 2008. A stronger labor market is partly responsible for a rise in leading economic indicators in March, as reported by [...]

[...] for the capital base at financial institutions One of the lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis was that banks did not have sufficient capital reserves to meet financial obligations and [...]

[...] : As you can see, the fear index peaked between late 2008 and early 2009 (i.e., during the financial crisis). At that time of maximum pain, when the crowd was afraid, Warren Buffett was buying $5 [...]

[...] private-equity index used by PSP peaked in 2007, and it has not recovered since the financial crisis. The following graph shows the results: Correlation measures how two assets move [...]

[...] Reserve operates under a dual policy mandate: Low unemployment; and low inflation. Since the financial crisis and the Great Recession, the Fed has thrown everything but the kitchen sink at the [...]

[...] Dear Readers: This is the home of a new publication about the economy and financial markets. Portfolio Muse is an independent voice that offers original, in-depth economic news and [...]

[...] planning and the importance of keeping your costs down. While you can't control the financial markets, you can control your investment costs. The costs you pay make a major difference over time [...]

[...] for an improving economy. The political debate will continue no matter what happens. In the financial markets, however, foreign currency traders appear to be voting in favor of President Obama's [...]

[...] In the financial markets, the month of October often brings darkness. The U.S. stock market tumbled downwards by [...]

[...] are cheap compared to the U.S. market. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF has a price-to-earnings ratio of 11, whereas the SPDR S&P 500 ETF's price-to-earnings ratio is 17, according to [...]

[...] will be upward pressure on energy prices. Currently, the Vanguard Energy ETF has a price-to-earnings ratio, a measure of valuation, of 14 times earnings. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has a [...]

[...] enable the company to adapt to current trends and produce strong results for patient, long-term investors three to five years from now. Disclosure: Portfolio Economics Principal Michael D. [...]

[...] are volatile and pose extra risk factors, including political and currency risk. Patient, long-term investors have been rewarded for taking these extra risks. Below is a performance graph of frontier [...]

[...] are down. This development in global equity markets presents a buying opportunity for long-term investors. At current prices, emerging markets are significantly undervalued compared to the U.S. [...]