This week, we feature Dr Woody Brock on why it's wrong to believe that the US (and other G7 economies) are in an era of permanently low economic growth brought on by falling productivity growth (things are rosier than you may think). Nouriel Roubini issues Trump a mixed first six months report card. Michael Kitces reviews how to work out the "right" discount rate to use to compare investment strategies. Michael Furey explains the four stages of investment analysis, and why it's worth working at the fourth level. And we close with Mugunthan Siva arguing why active and passive investing can be friends.
- All the best for another great week's continuing education - Graham
P.S. Last call - registration closes Tuesday for PortfolioConstruction Forum Strategies Conference 2017 (23-24 August) - It all adds up!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK...

It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning. - Claude Bernard

LATEST...

Markets
Rampant confusion - monetary policy, yield curve, bond yields
The growing belief that the US has entered an era of permanently low economic growth, due in large part to an alleged reduction in productivity growth, is wrong.
Dr Woody Brock, SED | More

Markets
A dim outlook for Trumponomics
After six months, we can more confidently assess the prospects for the US economy under Trump's administration. Like his presidency, paradoxes abound.
Nouriel Roubini, Roubini Global Economic | More

Strategies
Choosing discount rates for retirement planning strategies
While the use of a discount rate to compare strategies or choices that are dispersed or occur over time is useful, the proper discount rate is the investor's expected rate of return, means that the "right" discount rate will vary from one person to the next.
Michael Kitces, Nerd's Eye View | More

Investing
The four stages of investment analysis
Using a Stage 4 investment analysis framework is a strong move towards a deeper understanding of portfolio risk drivers, and ensuring portfolios better reflect your investment philosophy.
Michael Furey, Delta Research & Advisory | More

Investing
Active v passive – why can’t we be friends?
When it comes to the active versus passive investment debate, many investors believe the answer is black or white. But the issue is deeper than that.
Mugunthan Siva, India Avenue Investment Management | More

Is ASIC providing advice?
Interesting that Greg Medcraft has expressed an opinion about a specific class of financial product... under what licence has he provided this advice?
Michael Chamberlain, MCA NZ | More

Investors' basic needs?
... If you are looking for certainty, investment markets are probably not the place to look...
David Redford-Bell, QIC | More

RECENTLY...

Markets
The quandary on inflation
Recently, Fed Chair Janet Yellen expressed dismay that inflation has remained persistently below the Fed's target of 2%. Will low inflation derail the Fed's exit strategy?
Dr Robert Gay, Fenwick Advisers | More

Markets
Deciphering China's economic resilience
Forecasters find it difficult to resist superimposing the outcomes in major crisis-battered developed economies on China. That has been the wrong approach in the past; it is wrong again today.
Stephen Roach, Yale University | More

Markets
Research review: Anomalies and irrationality
Two new studies provide widespread evidence of mispricings/irrationalities across world equity markets. One in particular provides valuable insight into managing risk in equity investing.
Ron Bird, University of Technology Sydney | 1.00 CE | More

Investing
ASIC on hybrids
The head of ASIC says that hybrids are a ridiculous investment for retail investors. Are they? Yes and no.
Tim Farrelly, farrelly's | 5 comments | More

Markets | Investing
Rising rates, populism... but infrastructure remains reliable
For the foreseeable future, earnings of the infrastructure assets asset class, if defined in a disciplined manner, should continue to be reliable.
Gerald Stack, Magellan Asset Management | 0.25 CE | More

No new normal
...This is not a new normal. It is the application of the same economic principles to the current demographics and practices of people.
Michael Chamberlain, MCA NZ | More

Old economics, new normal
Agree that the principles of economics haven't changed. But the outcomes most certainly have. I think the concept of the new normal, popularised by PIMCO, is a really helpful way of describing the world we are in today...
Tim Farrelly, farrelly's | More

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