-- Posted Monday, 28 February 2011 | | Source: GoldSeek.com
Last year, we highlighted a historic surge in municipal bond fund inflows that we speculated would end badly (see: http://www.continentalca.com/home/March-12-2010). The charts below show that the record inflows during 2009 have given way to record outflows in recent months. In fact, outflows in December 2010 and January 2011 rival the largest annual outflows in any of the last 10 years. The recent outflows come at a time when state and local government financial imbalances are widely publicized, yet the record inflows occurred at a time when their financial conditions were just as stressed.
Figure 1. Monthly Municipal Bond Fund Flows
Source: ICI, Continental Capital Advisors
Figure 2. Annual Municipal Bond Fund Flows
Source: ICI, Continental Capital Advisors
Municipal bond fund flows during the past year and a half demonstrate how quickly trends can change and how fast market liquidity can evaporate. Similarly, even though stock investor sentiment is at or near record highs, it too can change at any moment. When prices are rising, investors believe that risk is declining. However, the reality could not be further from the truth. Today, after a 28% rally in the S&P 500 since last September, the downside risk to equity markets is extremely high despite the perception that it is not.
We continue to believe that equities are in an ongoing bear market rally that will eventually end terribly for most investors. Sovereign risks in Europe, deficit reduction measures by US state and local governments, tepid job growth, declining emerging economy stock markets, and civil unrest in the Middle East are problems that stock investors cannot ignore forever.
Daniel Aaronson - daaronson@continentalca.com
Lee Markowitz - lmarkowitz@continentalca.com
http://www.continentalca.com
Continental Capital Advisors, LLC
Continental Capital Advisors, LLC was formed to offset the destruction of wealth caused by the global devaluation of currencies by central banks. The name Continental Capital symbolizes the 1775 US Currency, "the Continental", which was backed by nothing and quickly became devalued.
Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion and is not intended as investment advice. Comments within the text should not be construed as specific recommendations to buy or sell securities. Individuals should consult with their broker and personal financial advisors before engaging in any trading activities. Certain statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities legislative measures. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the above mentioned companies, and / or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any action taken as a result of reading this is solely the responsibility of the reader.
-- Posted Monday, 28 February 2011 | Digg This Article | Source: GoldSeek.com