With oil, natural gas, coal, and gasoline at the highest prices in eight years, we consider if there is an energy crisis due to an over-reliance on renewable energy sources. Topics covered include: How high have prices risen for oil, gasoline, natural gas, and coalWhy rising energy prices is a multifaceted problem as illustrated by coalHow the global energy mix has changed for power productionWhy investment capital is flowing to renewable energy projects rather than fossil fuel … [Read more...]
361 Plus: Closed-End Fund Tender Offers and Asset Class Returns During High Inflation Environments
In Plus Episode 361, we review the proxy battle that has led to a tender offer by Templeton Global Income Fund (GIM) to purchase up to 70% of its outstanding shares. We consider whether now is the time to sell the fund. We also review two studies on how different asset classes and investment strategies performed during periods of high inflation. … [Read more...]
359: Why Are There So Many Shortages?
What is causing the shortage of goods and workers? What should we do about it? Topics covered include: How a tree pandemic killed billions of American Chestnut treesHow a massive increase in demand has crippled the global supply, leading to an eight-fold increase in shipping costsWhy there are so many job openings and people quitting their jobsWhy the free market doesn't work as well for child daycareHow stimulus payments during the pandemic reduced poverty ratesWhat is the lying flat … [Read more...]
342: Is Another Great Inflation Coming?
How today's inflationary environment is similar and different from the great inflation of the 1970s. What are the best assets to protect your portfolio if the next great inflation is here. Topics covered include: How is inflation measured and why the pandemic made calculating inflation difficult What causes inflation Why is inflation increasing currently What caused the great inflation of the 1970s Which assets are best to own to protect against inflation Show … [Read more...]
338: The National Debt, Inflation, and the U.S. Dollar—What Could Go Wrong?
With a ballooning U.S. federal budget deficit, a growing national debt, and double digit increases in the money supply, is it time to bet against the dollar? Topics covered include: What is driving the double-digit increases in U.S. home prices Why hasn't inflation spiked in line with rising home prices What is the velocity of money and why is it falling What are three schools of thought regarding what causes inflation What is the average interest rate and maturity … [Read more...]
336 Plus: A Simple Money Supply, Money Creation Analogy
In Plus Episode 336 for the week of March 27, 2021, we discuss some new site additions for Plus members. We also explore an analogy to explain under what circumstances the money supply and purchasing power increase and under what circumstances they don't. We use the analogy to explain what is happening currently and under what circumstances it could lead to higher inflation. Finally, we review why Hoisington Investment Management Company believes inflation will stay low and interest … [Read more...]
336: Own What Is Real
There has never been this much money in the world. Now is the time to own real property. Topics covered include: How to buy something with Bitcoin How cryptocurrencies are similar and different from fiat currencies What is legal tender Why there has never been this much money in the world Why central banks can control interest rates but not inflation What real property should investors own Show Notes The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession by Peter … [Read more...]
334 Plus: A New Inflation ETF, Inverse ETFs, and Excess CAPE Yields
In Plus Episode 334 for the week of March 13, 2021, we analyze the Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF (INFL) and how it seeks to protect against inflation including holding royalty trusts. We look at how inverse ETFs work and under what circumstances might they be used. Finally, we analyze earnings yields relative to bond yields including the Excess CAPE Yield, and what conclusions can we draw when stock earnings yields are higher than bond yields and vice versa. 334 … [Read more...]
326: The New Math of Retirement Spending and Investing
How should individuals invest and spend in retirement with interest rates so low, stock valuations high, and inflation uncertain. Why retirement managed payout funds and income replacement funds failed. Topics covered include: How managed payout and income replacement funds compare to immediate annuitiesWhy Vanguard and Fidelity changed the objective of their retiree focused income replacement and managed payout fundsHow fixed annuities workHow retirees should combine annuities with … [Read more...]
316: Paper, Rocks, or Digits—What Makes the Best Money
What are the elements of a successful monetary system. Source: Bartek.cieslak at Polish Wikipedia. Edited and captioned. Topics covered include: The stone currency of YapThe fiat currency of ancient ChinaWhy money requires trust, accounting, and tokensWhy too much money can lead to inflation and too little to deflationWhy the best money is useless other than as money Show Notes The island of stone money : Uap of the Carolines by William Henry Furness The Gold … [Read more...]