WSJ: What Is the Economic VIX?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Many investors are familiar with the VIX, or volatility index, that measures how much investors expect to see the S&P 500 index fluctuate. 

But far fewer know even a little about a measure of volatility in economic growth called the Economic VIX Index, created by Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at investment-management and research firm Leuthold Group. The Economic VIX is important now because its history over the decades since World War II shows that stocks do best when economic volatility in the U.S. is at its lowest or its highest—and the pandemic is stoking economic volatility that Mr. Paulsen believes will be historic. Read more here.

Ronnotel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

WSJ: Silver vs. Gold: How the Two Metals Compare as Investments

By SIMON  CONSTABLE 

So far this year, investors in gold and silver have made out like bandits, especially when you compare the returns of the world’s two best-known precious metals with those of stocks.

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the price of bullion, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV), an ETF that tracks silver prices, are up 34% and 57%, respectively, so far this year. That compares to just a 4% gain for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which tracks the S&P 500 stock index.  Read more here.

Photo by Scottsdale Mint on Unsplash

WSJ: Long Short Funds Missed Their Moment

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

The stock-market volatility in the first half of 2020 should have been a near-perfect period for “long-short” mutual funds and exchange-traded funds to make a killing. 

Unfortunately, less than one in three such funds made money for investors during this tumultuous period. Read more here.

Balon Greyjoy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Barron's: Corn Crops May Not Be Bountiful This Fall. Corn Prices Are Rising.

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Corn prices look set to rise over the next few weeks as extreme weather and agricultural pests put a dent in the harvest of the world’s two largest producers of the grain.

“Our estimate is that the corn price reaches $3.80 plus or minus 20 cents in the fall,” says Shawn Hackett, president of Boca Raton-based Hackett Financial Advisors.

In other words, corn prices could easily reach $4 a bushel, or about 24% higher than recent prices of around $3.22. Read more here. 

Forbes: Get Ready For A 50% Surge As Gold Miners Head For Record Highs

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Gold mining stocks have already staged a significant rally this year, but far more could be on the way in due course.

The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners exchange-traded fund (GDX), which tracks a basket of larger gold mining stocks, gained 47% so far this year. That’s way above the 27% rally in the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) 

Forbes: The Rally In Gold Mining Stocks May Barely Have Started

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Suddenly gold investing is front and center again on Wall Street. And smart investors could do a lot worse than consider gold mining stocks, such as those held in the VanEck Vectors Gold Miners exchange-traded fund (GDX).

The fund is up almost 50% year-to-date excluding dividends, and there could be a lot further to go this year. But wise investors might want to wait a while before jumping aboard the gold miners train. Read more here.

Forbes: If You Think Gold Prices Will Climb To $10,000, Forget It

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Gold prices have just smashed through the previous all-time record high around above $1,920 a troy ounce which was set in 2011. Bullion was recently fetching $1,942.

The rally is almost certain to continue for at least a while. But some gold bulls may have gotten a little too exuberant. Some see it going as high as $10,000 an ounce. Even if that does come to pass, don't expect it to last even as long as a day. Read more here.