If we are in the Japan-like scenario of what happened after 1989, it would suggest that we will be seeing very choppy equity markets over the next decade (this includes up and down swings of 40% or so over multi-year periods, just look at the Nikkei index) and one should wrap their heads around the ability to make money in the marketplace when the overall indicies are not moving in the long run. Some basic financial theory would suggest that if the market gives equities a modest 2-3% risk premium, the most we will be seeing out of the S&P 500 on an annualized basis is around 4-5% nominal returns. The ultra-low bond yields we are seeing internationally are also a symptom of huge problems.
As a small factoid, Canadian 10-year debt is at 1.3%. Looks relatively attractive when comparing it to Japan’s 0.38%, Germany’s 0.37%, or the wonderfully fantastic -0.1% yield you’ll get by buying Swiss Government 10-year debt.
Smarter people than myself have already figured out that one of the primary arguments against gold is that it has no yield. But gold looks very attractive when viewed in relation to either sitting on a pile of Swiss paper (literally Swiss Francs underneath the bed mattress) as you wouldn’t want to be investing your money in negative-yield debt. At least when your house catches on fire, the gold is reclaimable.
Once all the gyrations in the fossil fuel market work their way through, having a swimming pool of crude oil in the backyard isn’t going to hurt either.
Are you still holding onto MIC?
Yes. I pared significantly from the 38-40 range but barely missed another exit tranche last November.