Insights
Cumberland Advisors Market Commentary offers insights and analysis on upcoming, important economic issues that potentially impact global financial markets. Our team shares their thinking on global economic developments, market news and other factors that often influence investment opportunities and strategies. Our readers appreciate its timeliness, depth of analysis, and quality of research.
Author(s): Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D. | Thu September 28, 2017
As we at Cumberland Advisors expected, the FOMC left its policy rate unchanged for the moment and announced that it would begin the process of normalization of its balance sheet in October. They have a plan. It has been well-articulated. There were no surprises, and the Committee and Chair…
Author(s): Bill Witherell, Ph.D. | Wed September 27, 2017
Currently visiting France, a country in which I lived for some 26 years, I am struck by the widespread optimism about the economic and political future of the nation. This upbeat sentiment contrasts sharply with French attitudes in recent decades and with the situation across the Channel in the…
Author(s): Leo Chen, Ph.D. | Tue September 26, 2017
As we march through one all-time high after another in the third quarter this year, our quantitative market volatility strategy has benefited significantly from being fully invested. The leveraged portfolio has done particularly well.
The volatility index, VIX, which is highly correlated…
Author(s): David R. Kotok | Mon September 25, 2017
“George Catlett Marshall, Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American statesman and soldier. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Army under presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, and served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under Truman.” Source…
Author(s): Richard Daskin | Fri September 22, 2017
We have started to see a bottoming process in the energy space begin to take hold. Limitations in crude oil production by OPEC and non-OPEC energy producers appear to have stabilized the supply to markets. In addition, demand is performing a bit better than forecast. As a result the US WTI (West…
Author(s): John R. Mousseau, CFA | Thu September 21, 2017
Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico today as a Category 5 storm. Our hearts and prayers go out to the citizens of Puerto Rico, as we know this storm will cause extensive damage to the Commonwealth.
Author(s): Gabriel Hament | Wed September 20, 2017
In the wake of the twin tragedies of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, here at Cumberland we are doing what we can to assist and support those organizations that are efficiently deploying resources to help vulnerable households regroup and get back on their feet. We have all heard the stories and…
Author(s): David R. Kotok | Tue September 19, 2017
What a crazy quarter we are closing. Washington chaos and antics, North Korean threats and missiles, hurricanes, uncertain Fed policy, no advancement of legislation or tax reform or healthcare reform or repatriation or infrastructure rebuilding – we encountered all this and more. And in the…
Author(s): Patricia Healy, CFA | Sat September 16, 2017
It was a short two weeks ago that I wrote a commentary titled “Hurricane Harvey – Unprecedented Event?” Harvey ended up being two events, the hurricane and then extensive, protracted rain and flooding. And here I am now, writing about another unprecedented event: Hurricane Irma, which hit the…
Author(s): Leo Chen, Ph.D. | Thu September 14, 2017
Financial markets often present cross-sectional correlations throughout many asset classes. For example, while crude oil and the energy sector tend to move in sync, gold and equity like to move in opposite directions. Besides the usual suspects in past asset-correlation studies, we would like to…