In an environment set up to be a lost decade for many traditional asset classes, a potentially compelling option is moving from a 60/40 to a 50/30/20 portfolio allocation model to integrate a fund like the Catalyst/Millburn Hedge Strategy Fund (MBXIX), which has generated positive returns in both bull and bear markets.
As we enter the second half of the year, many questions remain regarding the trajectory of financial markets and the economy. Our stance on stagflation (or "recession-inflation") remains steadfast. Drawing parallels to the mid-1970s, structurally, we are in a stagflation environment amid 41-year high supply-side inflation (driven by soaring oil prices and food prices), slowing GDP, and the eventual unravelment of the tight labor market.
Robert Kiyosaki recently tweeted, “The best time to prepare for a crash is before the crash. The biggest crash in world history is coming. The good news is the best time to get rich is during a crash. The bad news is the next crash will be a long one.”
October was marked by continued volatility across fixed income and equity markets as investors faced various challenges, including persistent inflation concerns, rising yields, tightening monetary policy, and the backdrop of a U.S. Presidential election.
As an investor, it’s nice to know what we should expect from President Trump, because we have seen the movie before in 2017 – 2021. Apart from the early part of the Pandemic period, the economy and stock markets generally performed well.
Remember, our investment in stocks is a De facto vote of confidence on the economies in which we invest. Earnings, revenue, margins, free cash flow, and the growth of these important metrics is what drives stocks up or down over time.
The discretionary sector struggled as did all growth and quality-oriented areas of the market in 2022. That was a classic re-set and a raging opportunity to add exposure.